77 electric shift stringer

[77americaneagle]

I'm having some spare time and thought I would change the impeller on my 1977 302 175 HP electric shift. I've read that you can just take the lower unit off and accomplish it that way. Is there tutorial on this or another thread? I thought I saw one which had pictures but haven't been able to find it. I bought the boat new in 1977 and had a dealer replace the impeller once and that must have been about 20 years ago. I do have the seloc manual on disk and have been reading it. Just hoping there was a better reading on it. Thanks

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

Can't help ya on the details, I always thought you needed to remove the drive. To just pull the lower, you'd be stressing the shift wire.

However, you prove my point that OMC impellers do not need to be changed every year, or so, like the Rube Goldberg black anchors. My '79 has only had two impeller changes in 34 years and those were just for general principle. The impellers,as removed, did have a set but they were complete and supple with no cracks in them.

 

[77americaneagle]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

After reading about the impellers I have to agree with Boomyal. I always worked out of town and home on weekends so never took to good of care of the sterndrive. I would grease and change the oil and check the upper and lower oil levels but that was about it. To winterize it I would drain the blocks and manifolds and then start it without any supplemental water and gas it a few times to blow out any leftover water and then just turn it off and put it away for the winter. In the spring I would put the plugs back in and then make sure it would start, without any water, then turn it off and to the lake I would go. I consider myself extremely lucky..... So now that I am semi retired I will catch up on the things that I should have done earlier.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

Thinkin' about it, the impeller is on the bottom of the upper gear case ... you'll be essentially laying on your back to change it without removing the drive.

You should be able to 1.) disconnect the shift cables on the port side of the engine. 2.) support the lower unit. 3.) remove the top cap from the drive. That should release the lower from the upper gear case. Be careful of the shift cables sliding through the intermediate housing as you settle the lower down. The exhaust housing will probably go with the lower.

The upper gearcase should be left hanging by itself on the trunions, and the impeller is at the bottom.

... though about 2 more minutes of twisting bolts and the upper comes off too.

Welcome aboard.

 

[77americaneagle]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

I haven't been able to find the impeller kit. drive model #981059 serial #W98494. Ford 302 Any help would be appreciated Thanks

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

I haven't been able to find the impeller kit. drive model #981059 serial #W98494. Ford 302 Any help would be appreciated Thanks

I'm sure they have it here on iboats. Just go to the store and type in OMC Stringer water pump impeller. The motor will make no difference.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

I'm sure they have it here on iboats. Just go to the store and type in OMC Stringer water pump impeller. The motor will make no difference.

If not - you need to find your engine model on the engine itself (should be a tag or stamp - mine is starboard side toward the back), then go HERE and select PARTS, and then STERN DRIVE in the drop down. Navigate to your year, HP and model number.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

Here it is!

Impeller Repair Kit for OMC Sterndrive Cobra - Sierra 18-3286 - iboats

You can't miss the stringer impeller. They are all the same and are 3 times bigger than the Merc/Cobra.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

If its been that long since it was replaced, I would suggest you replace the water pump housing as well. There should be a kit with everything in it.....here it is: Boat Part Headquarters - Quality name brand aftermarket boat parts or here Water Pump Kit for OMC Sterndrive Cobra 983218, GLM 12190 - Sierra 18-3386 - iboats

 

[77americaneagle]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

The impeller doesn't look bad after 20 years. I forgot to look at the impeller before I took it out of the housing. In the picture is it in the right way?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

The impeller doesn't look bad after 20 years. I forgot to look at the impeller before I took it out of the housing. In the picture is it in the right way?

Proves my point against all the black anchor crowd who need to replace their impellers every year or so. Now that you have it apart and considering its age, you might as well replace it. Not sure what you mean about "is it in the right way". Be sure you read all the instructions about what to lube and what to seal before you reassemble it.

Just had my OD off the boat and the lower separated from the upper. I did this under the guidance of an OMC guru and I would have missed a lot of stuff without him. I was getting water in my lower gearcase (hydro-mechanical) Turns out that water was entering thru a split in the shift cable covering. I didn't go to the impeller because it was only 6 years old with little use.

 

[77americaneagle]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

I have ordered the whole kit and should get it next Monday. What I meant about the impeller being the right way is the way the vanes are curved. I could have turned it upside down before I put it in and the vanes would be pointing the opposite way.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

Yes, it is installed correctly in the picture.

 

[77americaneagle]

Re: 77 electric shift stringer

Thanks everyone for your help.