Neverquit
Seaman
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2018
- Messages
- 51
1985 OMC stringer 400
Took the drive off this week to give it a once over, everything working fine but being on a new to me boat I figured now with a minus 36 windchill outside is the time to give it a little TLC.
Ball gears, one looks real good, the other I would guess has 30 % wear on it so I decided I will put a new set on it and while it is off might just as well put a water pump in at the same time.
Looking for parts I have found new OEM gears and have found aftermarket sets for roughly the same money.
Anyone have a bad experience with one or the other for these parts?
Seals, nuts and caps come with the aftermarket gear sets, imagine I would change just because.
Is it routine to put a new nut and cap on each time they are removed?
The OEM gears come by themselves but I can order the nuts seals and caps if required.
Same question for the water pump kits.
I was going to replace the transom boot/seal while I was at it but looking at this one I would believe it was replaced by a previous owner not very long ago.
I have read that the aftermarket boots do not last near as long as the factory ones so I am leaning towards not messing with a good thing.
Before I order parts Is there anything else I should be replacing as routine maintenance while it is apart?
No leaks to be found anywhere on it neither oil or water. All the oils are clean and clear and are being changed just so I know how long they have been in there.
The lower leg was replaced just before I got it and that portion looks fine.
Reading on this site it is obvious not many have a lot of good things to say about these stringers but being that it has held together for the last 30+ years I figure with a little TLC it should still hold up a long time for the number of hours a year I go fishing.
Took the drive off this week to give it a once over, everything working fine but being on a new to me boat I figured now with a minus 36 windchill outside is the time to give it a little TLC.
Ball gears, one looks real good, the other I would guess has 30 % wear on it so I decided I will put a new set on it and while it is off might just as well put a water pump in at the same time.
Looking for parts I have found new OEM gears and have found aftermarket sets for roughly the same money.
Anyone have a bad experience with one or the other for these parts?
Seals, nuts and caps come with the aftermarket gear sets, imagine I would change just because.
Is it routine to put a new nut and cap on each time they are removed?
The OEM gears come by themselves but I can order the nuts seals and caps if required.
Same question for the water pump kits.
I was going to replace the transom boot/seal while I was at it but looking at this one I would believe it was replaced by a previous owner not very long ago.
I have read that the aftermarket boots do not last near as long as the factory ones so I am leaning towards not messing with a good thing.
Before I order parts Is there anything else I should be replacing as routine maintenance while it is apart?
No leaks to be found anywhere on it neither oil or water. All the oils are clean and clear and are being changed just so I know how long they have been in there.
The lower leg was replaced just before I got it and that portion looks fine.
Reading on this site it is obvious not many have a lot of good things to say about these stringers but being that it has held together for the last 30+ years I figure with a little TLC it should still hold up a long time for the number of hours a year I go fishing.