Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Lancerdad34 · May 19, 2010

Well I think I really messed up this one! I just got this boat a1991 four Winns with a cobra OMC IO. I was going to check the OD fluid and took out the wrong plug. It was a water drain plug. When I tried to put it back in there was a little metal piece that the screw went it too but it kept dropping out of the center and I could not get the screw started. In messing around it fell down in there somewhere. What are my options? Do I need to see a mechanic? Not a way to start the season!

Thanks,

Brian in MI

DBreskin · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

You have to pull the drive to fix it. See this post: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=385292

89 VIP Valiant · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

You CAN put the plug back in without pulling the drive, but damn it sucks and will give you a headache! I did that to mine, and if i remember correctly, i used a small piece of wire to hold the nut in place, and after number attempts, I got the thread to catch and got it in. Will never pull that plug again!

Lancerdad34 · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Wow what a lesson to learn! It fell down in there and I can see it! Isn't that a plug that had to come out to drain? On the plus side there is a place not far from here where my neighboor goes to get his work done. It will be a good time to have the universals greased and have the bellows checked.
Thanks for all the replies!

HT32BSX115 · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Lancerdad34 said:
Well I think I realyl messed up this one! I just got this boat a1991 four Winns with a cobra OMC IO. I was going to check the OD fluid and took out the wrong plug. It was a water drain plug. When I tried to put it back in there was a little metal piece that the screw went it too but it kept dropping out of the center and I could not get the screw started. In messing around it fell down in there somewhere. What are my options? Do I need to see a mechanic? Not a way to start the season!

Thanks,

Brian in MI

Yes. You messed up. You removed the "NEVER REMOVE" plug/screw/etc.

You must remove the drive to retrieve the nut-plate that is behind the hole. (You should remove the drive anyway to do what you describe anyway! Lube U-joints, inspect bellows, check alignment etc)

The service manual is completely silent on that screw too, by the way....

You really didn't hurt anything but you should find that nut plate because it could get lodged in the water hose or fitting in the transom mount and could restrict water flow and cause overheats....

OMC probably thought no one would ever find that "screw" since there's supposed to be an OMC emblem over it.... You had one but it either was removed by someone or it fell off!

Regards,

Rick

Lancerdad34 · May 19, 2010

Retrieved it now what?

Retrieved it now what?

OK somehow I was able to get the missing peice out. Now does anyone have any ideas how to hold it in place to get the screw to catch?

Lancerdad34 · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

If I get it back in at least I can use the boat a few times before I have the mechanic pull the drive. The drive was off last summer (I helped) and the joints were greased then.

HT32BSX115 said:
Yes. You messed up. You removed the "NEVER REMOVE" plug/screw/etc.

You must remove the drive to retrieve the nut-plate that is behind the hole. (You should remove the drive anyway to do what you describe anyway! Lube U-joints, inspect bellows, check alignment etc)

The service manual is completely silent on that screw too, by the way....

You really didn't hurt anything but you should find that nut plate because it could get lodged in the water hose or fitting in the transom mount and could restrict water flow and cause overheats....

OMC probably thought no one would ever find that "screw" since there's supposed to be an OMC emblem over it.... You had one but it either was removed by someone or it fell off!

Regards,

Rick

HT32BSX115 · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Lancerdad34 said:
If I get it back in at least I can use the boat a few times before I have the mechanic pull the drive. The drive was off last summer (I helped) and the joints were greased then.

Yeah,

That would work.

No one seems to know why the hole is there to begin with! Any way you could plug it would be ok too I suppose!

You're in a BIG "club" now of people who have done this!!

Cheers,

Rick

Lancerdad34 · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Someone told me to use that sticky make a gasket stuff to hold the plate on. I am going to let it dry out in there before I try anything.

cr2k · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Never pull any bolt/screw that is Phillips or is/was under a decal.

Pulling the drive is easy. Get the gasket set unhook the rams and 6 bolts. your're out. long pliers to hold the rubber and the thread block and you are back in business. OMC Cobra do this in neutral.

Hansolo99 · May 19, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Lancerdad34 said:
Someone told me to use that sticky make a gasket stuff to hold the plate on. I am going to let it dry out in there before I try anything.

The plug is just there to cover the hole (who knows why they did that). Try the gasket stuff, but just a tad to hold it in place (again just use a little bit). Use a piece of solid thin stiff wire to hold it there for a while till it dries and stays in place, then thread it all back together. Props for pulling all that out!! LOL!! Let us know!!

Lancerdad34 · May 20, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Going to do it this afternoon and will let you all know. Thanks again for all the replies!

Lancerdad34 · May 20, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Success!
I used some marine adhesive on the part and inside of the hole and it held when I started the screw. Thanks again for all the help here and safe boating to all!

Lancerdad34 · May 24, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

Well put it in yesterday and it ran great. Thanks again for all the help here!

sethjon · Jun 16, 2010

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

If you pulled the plug in the center on the port side you have to pull the drive off to get the nut that droppped.

madmaxracing58 · Dec 3, 2011

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

is the plug magnetic i cannot see it. everyone says to pull the drive apart to get it. If i was that smart the screw would not have been removed in the first place.

Don S · Dec 3, 2011

Re: Water drain plug OMC Cobra

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