1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

[lohle]

I have a mechanic that told me it was probably the tilt gear on the outside of the OMC outdrive. He told me to just disasemble it and I could lift the outdrive for transport. However, I can't seem to locate the gear that he is speaking of. On the passenger side of the boat there is a small gear casing that is not perfectly square I am thinking that is the gear casing to get to the gear. Need help locating the correct gear to pick the outdrive up. Please help

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

Although this is an earlier electric shift drive, the tilt quadrant is the same as yours. Sometimes those quadrant bolts do not remove easily. You need a box wrench, propane torch, penetrant and patience.

BTW, you need a new mechanic. Your problem is not the tilt quadrant. It's a 99% chance that your problem is a bad tilt motor or corroded connections. Yes, you can remove the gear but what will you do with the drive when it is off? Let it flop around?

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: 1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

Welcome to iboats! There's a few of us lunatic....er... OMC owners around here that should be able to help you out.

Your problem is most likely with the 'tilt gear box' shown in wizeone's second pic. They can develop water leaks and corrode/damage the clutch pack inside, or the cover plate can be installed too tightly or without the gasket/shim in place and bind up the gears inside.

Make sure to grease the pivots on either side of the upper gearcase. You can see one of the zerk fittings in wo's second pic directly above the tilt gear box, just to the right of where the wire is attached. They are usually covered by black rubber bumpers that just pry off.

Also possible is a broken hammer-blow coupling or tilt motor shaft. You need to pull the tilt motor out to check these and can be a PITA to get at.

Next most likely is the electric side of the tilt system. Low battery, dirty connections, bad solenoids or a bad motor will all cause issues.

A little more info would help to determine where the problem lies:
Is the battery fully charged?
Have you checked & cleaned all the electrical connections from the switch, to the solenoids, and to the tilt motor?
Are you getting power to activate the soleoids from the switch?
Are the solenoids closing and letting power through to the motor?

If those check out, then the problem is mechanical and we can go into what to check next.

 

[lohle]

Re: 1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

thanks for the pics Lt. but my outdrive is a little different i will take a pic this weekend and post it l

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

The only other difference is the Cobra drive that has a hyd. system for trim/tilt

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

thanks for the pics Lt. but my outdrive is a little different i will take a pic this weekend and post it l

More than likely, a lot different.

It is probably a late '85 Cobra. Boy, was your mechanic wide of the mark!

 

[michaelclyde]

Re: 1984 OMC outdrive won't tilt!

Re: 1984 OMC outdrive won't tilt!

It is probably a late '85 Cobra. Boy, was your mechanic wide of the mark!

Arrgghh! Just found ur forum and discussion herein, a related question concerning the 3-wire lift motor on a 1984 OMC 3.8L sterndrive! The motor works just fine, spinning in either direction, but upon inspection the 1 to 1 1/2 inch armature drive shaft IS SNAPPED FLUSH AT THE MOTOR!

I have it apart and my question is -> what kind of conx exists between the motor shaft and the external long one that turns the worm gear -> 'cause from the outside I cannot pull the long worm gear shaft out and do not want to force it (yet?) From the inside I can feel something wobbling loose but cannot get a good view on it,

I know I probably need a new motor (suggestions what & where?) but is it possible the worm gear shaft is OK (and how to disconnect from the broken motor piece that is still attached on the inside)? Is it SLOTTED as I wouldn't think that'd be very strong?

(ps: have the two side slotted, brass colored, spring loaded piece connection OUT looks like new motor only!)

 

[blackhawk12]

Re: 1985 OMC outdrive won't tilt

my tilt motor has the same problem as his my out drive is an 1984 stringer 400