Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

[sam60]

A general stupid question about engines and stern drives....If the shifter is in neutral is the out-drive totally disengaged from the engine? Just wondering if something could break where they couple and cause the crank to seize....

Trying to to the crank on a boat stored for 3 years. Plugs out cylinders lubricated.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

No the upper gears spin whenever the engine is running, and on a dog clutch drive do to the pinion and fwd/rev gears but they are not locked to the prop shaft. So if you have a bad drive problem yes it can make it look like the engine is seized. Pull off the drive, then hook up a water hose to the water intake nipple on the thermo housing and then you can try to start the engine...but first I'd spray marvel mystery oil in the cylinders, let it soak in, and then try to get it turning by hand, with the plugs out I can easily get my 4.3 to turn by tugging on the drive belts (wearing thick gloves to protect your hands)....

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

Thanks Lou. I will get started in the AM.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

No the upper gears spin whenever the engine is running, and on a dog clutch drive do to the pinion and fwd/rev gears but they are not locked to the prop shaft. So if you have a bad drive problem yes it can make it look like the engine is seized. Pull off the drive, then hook up a water hose to the water intake nipple on the thermo housing and then you can try to start the engine...but first I'd spray marvel mystery oil in the cylinders, let it soak in, and then try to get it turning by hand, with the plugs out I can easily get my 4.3 to turn by tugging on the drive belts (wearing thick gloves to protect your hands)....

His drive is a Cone-clutch Cobra. (94 model)

The input shaft turns any time the engine is turning..... If it's in neutral, the vertical drive shaft doesn't turn. Maybe the upper is frozen but it might be more likely that the engine is frozen after sitting so long.

You'll want to remove the drive anyway to check the alignment....

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

stored for 3 years

Seized 454 OMC King Cobra

Do ya got a funny feeling that ya mighta got burned? How did the oil look in the engine?

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

The oil is clean. I put MMO on top of the cylinders today and will wait until next weekend to try turning the engine again. I will be seeing the co-worker that I bought it from in the AM with some pointed questions about what exactly happened on his last outing on Lake Mead that resulted in a tow.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

resulted in a tow.

That doesn't sound good..

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

I only paid $2K for it and the boat has always been covered and is very clean, 368 hours. So even if a costs a few bucks, I'm OK with it.
A total repower would be nicer but thats more than a few bucks.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

If that outdrive is toast it will be more than a few bucks.. Do what RICK did.. He has the best swap ever..

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

OK....where is RICK and what did he do? I need options!

Thanks

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

87 Four Winns 211 Liberator 97 454/Bravo III (with closed cooling)
Formerly powered by an OMC 7.5L King Cobra

He will be along shortly to brag about it. Yep Rick.. We are all jealous

That cone drive King Cobra is suppose to be tough as nails.. Not if it got filled wrong.. If the gears got fried you are S.O.L.. No sweet way to put it.. If the outdrive is good.. It is worth more used to someone who needs it than you paid for the boat.. Does that make you feel better?

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

Yeah, I've read a lot about it. I've seen that I really cant find a complete outdrive that will adapt to the King Cobra unless RICK can get here and save me..............

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

Yeah, I've read a lot about it. I've seen that I really cant find a complete outdrive that will adapt to the King Cobra unless RICK can get here and save me..............

There isn't.. He can't save ya.. He yanked out all the OMC JUNK and installed a merc 454 and a bravo 3 from pulleys to props..
There is no adapt kit or any such thing.. Is the outdrive full of oil... Pull the thing off and see if the engine will spin over.. You can take it off quick.. 30 minutes the first time 15 the next..

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

If I can't turn it with the 3' cheater on my breaker bar when I get back to it on Saturday, that will be my only option. Do you think I can do a complete re-power for less than $6K?

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

Sure

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

If I can't turn it with the 3' cheater on my breaker bar when I get back to it on Saturday, that will be my only option. Do you think I can do a complete re-power for less than $6K?

Yes, you can....if you find a DEAL like I did..... I found a wind damaged 1998 24ft Bayliner that I bought the (120hr since new) 1997 engine and drive for $5k....

There are deals out there.....and you already have the engine (that you may have to rebuild anyway)

You would have to find a Bravo drive and transom mount and all the accessories. The best way to do it if you decide to is to find a donor boat (maybe one with a cracked block etc)

The other choice might be to find Volvo DPS drive and transom (I don't think you can adapt a Volvo to the newer Cobra transom unless you have an SX (I don't think that "King" was an SX)

Post your engine and drive serial numbers and DonS will know if any of it is compatible,

I looked for a Volvo DP for my boat and never found any in the NW used. I did find several Merc 454/496 Bravo I/II/III setups...

My boat was purchased new in Las Vegas by the way.....(My brother thought the OMC 460 King Cobra was better because it was rated at 10hp more than the also available 454/Mercruiser )

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

"Post your engine and drive serial numbers and DonS will know if any of it is compatible,"


It's a '92 engine. Model 744DPEAM - Serial TOL243607

The drive is Model 957128 (best I can tell) - Serial 10787734

Thanks

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

I'm going to pull the exhaust manifolds and valve covers and make sure I'm not bound up at exhaust valves.....before I create repair costs there too.

The wife wants to get the grand-kids out on the lake before summer is over, but I reminded here that it's usually about 120* on the lake in the summer.....fall works for me. Not a lot of lake choices around here.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

"Post your engine and drive serial numbers and DonS will know if any of it is compatible,"


It's a '92 engine. Model 744DPEAM - Serial TOL243607

The drive is Model 957128 (best I can tell) - Serial 10787734

Thanks

92. I don't know why I thought it was a 94........

If the drive is original it's an "interim" Cone Clutch Cobra. sort of in between the Dog Clutch Cobras and the Cobra (Volvo) SX

The other "problem" you have (sorry) is that you also have the infamous Spitfire ignition. (for which parts are scarce) You cannot buy an ignition module unless someone has one languishing on the shelf collecting dust.....

I am also pretty sure that you cannot bolt a Volvo Penta drive on the back of the OMC transom mount (you can on the newer ones though.... I think 96 and newer)


There may be nothing wrong with your drive........ If you discover a problem with the engine and you can fix it easily, you'll be back on the water with minimal problems.

If there's a problem with the drive AND you have an engine problem, I would start looking for a complete package or a donor boat.


Sorry about that.....


Rick

 

[sam60]

Re: Siezed 454 OMC King Cobra

No worries, Rick. Thanks for your help.
However it shakes out, I will have this thing out for a test by Labor Day.
I will keep you updated with pics and such.

Mike