66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

1966 LazyDays Houseboat with twin Kiekhaufers and Mercruiser 1C sterndrives. Each have their own set of problems, but especially the housings are eat up with galvanic corrosion. Anodes are missing. One drive is hangin' at a funny angle, so the trim supports were replaced by the previous owner with a small piece of aluminum angle. Props are shots. Engines sound good and compression checks out, new points, plug, wires and fuel and they run fine, but know that very soon I will have a failure of one of these sterndrives. And here's the issue: No replacements have yet been located and very few parts can be located. Is there a possibility of replacing the entire drive unit? I do not mind patching and recutting the transom, afterall, this is an aluminum hull. I have considered removing the drives and mounting a couple 115 Yamahas on Moby mounts, but that is sounding a little too expensive, besides I cannot confirm if two outboards will have sufficient thrust to push 9 tons up river. What say the experts about either of these issues?

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

What engines are in it now?

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,....

Are ya thinkin' pulleys to prop, or just from the flywheel, aft,..??

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

I think at 45 years old these units deserve retirement. If you are in the US-A then finding a couple of 'donor' boats with 3.0 litre engines shouldn't be too difficult (or expensive). Fixing up units of this age will be an ongoing exercise, you will have your hand in your pocket forever, IF you could find any parts. The 1C drive finished in that year.... (1966)

Just my opinion....

Chris.......

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

Don S said:

What engines are in it now?

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In 1966 the 1C drive was only fitted to 140 or 150hp, both in-line 6 cylinder GMs....

Parts will not be hard to find, they will be VERY hard to find.....

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

achris said:

In 1966 the 1C drive was only fitted to 140 or 150hp, both in-line 6 cylinder GMs....

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Thanks for taking the time to look that up. Heaven forbid a poster should have to tell us what he actually has.

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

Yep, that's right, a typical landluber, without a clue what to post on your site to ask a question. I was coming back to give more details, but customer sidetracked me. achris is right about the powerplants, and to answer bond-o's question: flywheel-aft. I don't think it would be too prudent to start such a rehab, the outdrives are too far gone. I know that I can find a couple cheap matching "donor" boats, but do not know how or where to find information, written or printed, as to whether the GMs (SNs: 1948747 and 1948761) will bolt up to anything newer. The vessel is still in the water, and undercover. I want to complete the re-flooring and re-roofing before I have it lifted out and placed on blocks. In the meantime, before disassembly, I would like to have a plan and acquire the equipment, first. Thank you for the opportunity to communicate with experts. I have spent the last hours going through the maintenance info you pinned, but have a question about how to get enough graphite into a shifting cable to ensure that it is not sticking. I know the shift-interrupt switch is working because the engines die when shifting from forward to reverse or vice versa. Can't even get the boat out of the marina safely, until that is fixed!

Re: 66 Kiekhaufers in need of complete drive unit replacements...

66LazyDays43Footer said:

Yep, that's right, a typical landluber, without a clue what to post on your site to ask a question.

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Cool down tiger. There is a sticky at the top of this forum that is labelled "How to ask a question". If you had read that BEFORE posting, all this agro would have been avoided...

66LazyDays43Footer said:

I was coming back to give more details, but customer sidetracked me. achris is right about the powerplants, and to answer bond-o's question: flywheel-aft. I don't think it would be too prudent to start such a rehab, the outdrives are too far gone. I know that I can find a couple cheap matching "donor" boats, but do not know how or where to find information, written or printed, as to whether the GMs (SNs: 1948747 and 1948761) will bolt up to anything newer.

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No, they will not. Once the Ezy-shift drives finished there was a complete redesign. Nothing later is compatible with what you have.

66LazyDays43Footer said:

... but have a question about how to get enough graphite into a shifting cable to ensure that it is not sticking.

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We don't put graphite in the cables. If they are sticky there is ONLY one solution, replace them.

66LazyDays43Footer said:

I know the shift-interrupt switch is working because the engines die when shifting from forward to reverse or vice versa. Can't even get the boat out of the marina safely, until that is fixed!

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I know this doesn't help you with your current problem, but there is little you can do....

Chris......