Pulling a drive

[jlinder]

I have an OMC Cobra drive (from 1988). I have read about pulling the drive for routing mainenance, but in the past have been a little aprehensive about this not knowing if there was anything weird or tricky about getting it back on.<br /><br />It has turned out that in the past I needed work done by experts (I hope experts) who pulled the drive and checked it for me. In my effort to become independent I would like to learn. ( already have the seloc manual, but still have questions)<br /><br />I can pull the drive with the 6 bolts and off it comes. Any hints, comments, suggestions on what to do after that? How about putting it back on? Are there problems getting the drive shaft to connect up again? It flopps around when off so I was worried about getting it to reseat.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Pulling a drive

Anyone?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Pulling a drive

post this in engines, and rodbolt & Don S should be able to help you. Not sure they check here very much

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Pulling a drive

Jack,it is not a difficult task at all.I have always has Mercruisers and taking them off is easier than putting them on but neither is too tough to do.My advice is to read a manual on how to do it and make a small list of the order in which to do each step.Give it a try,if you follow directions you cant break anything and you can always start over.There are many tricks you will pick up to make it easier as you get more familiar with it.Charlie

 

[JB]

Re: Pulling a drive

To I/O.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Pulling a drive

Just always afraid of getting in over my head.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Pulling a drive

There have been tips posted here recently for putting a Cobra drive back on. Try a search for 'cobra bellows', 'cobra alignment', and maybe 'cobra drive replacement'.<br /><br />Hopefully one of these will turn up some helpful info.<br /><br />Also, take a look at the following link. If you're going to pull the drive want to make sure you get the transom shift cable replaced and/or adjusted correctly.<br /><br /> http://www.funkopolis.com:8080/~stuart/cobra/ <br /><br />Good luck! If you do it, please post back & let us know how it went. I'm in a similar situation as you, considering it but not quite ready to pull the trigger yet. Would love to hear your experience if you do it.<br /><br />p.s., don't know about the seloc manual, but I had the Clymers one and bought the OEM OMC manual along with the OEM OMC stern drive parts catalogue. seloc might be good enough (see what others say) but I suspect even if it is, it would be worthwhile spending $10 to get the OEM parts catalogue. Great views of everything broken down along with associated parts numbers.

 

[rybad]

Re: Pulling a drive

Jack;<br /><br />Here's a good tip: If your bellows havent been changed recently, do it. The GLM bellows that are sold now are a little bit different, and they go on A LOT easier than the older ones. You can get a "transom service kit" from www.ebasicpower.com for $89.00 which includes U-Joint & Exhause bellows, SS Straps, Gasket Kit, and Gimbal Bearing. <br /><br />It used to take me and two buddies about an hour to get my drives back on, since I changed the bellows, it takes me and one other guy about two minutes, and thats mostly just trying to get the spline lined up.<br /><br />Don't be afraid of it!<br /><br />Good Luck!

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Pulling a drive

David1995, when did they change the design of those bellows? I have an extra one that is about 3 years old. I too have had a hell of a time reattaching my cobra l/u.

 

[rybad]

Re: Pulling a drive

I don't really know when.. I just got new ones this year, and I've only had this boat for two year now. The machanic at one of the local shops here told me that the "new" design would be easier when I was asking him about why it was so hard to put the drive back on. As to what "new design" means in terms of a date, I don't know.. and at this point, I don't care. I just know it makes a hugh difference. (I'm actually looking forward to putting my other drive back on!! Just Kidding)<br /><br />If you look at the open end of the bellow that seal on the bearing carrier, the old ones had a U-shapped canal. The newer ones are thinner, and the come out on an angle (making the ID a tiny bit wider towards the outside) leaving more space for the U-Joint to slide through (which is where you usually get hung up at).

 

[brentchalmers]

Re: Pulling a drive

Is this the same as the type 1 stern drives. I'm trying to replace all my bellows as well as my transom shift cable but everything says i Need to be in forward gear but the shifter cable is shot so how do I do I fix that problem. any help would be greatg. <br /><br />thaks<br />Brent

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Pulling a drive

pleasehelp<br /> post a new topic to include the drive make model and approximate year. then the respnses will follow. if the cable is not moving there is a way to shift the drive .<br /> a type one and a cobra are vastly different animals.

 

[rybad]

Re: Pulling a drive

I'm not sure what a type one is either.. but I just replaced a transom shift cable and bellows on my '89 Cobra, and it's not hard at all. On Cobra's, you have to follow the adjustment docs available on this site.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Pulling a drive

David, about how long did it take you to complete this project? (I ask, cause then I can figure it would take me 2-3 times as long, lol. I'm just very slow & methodical).