Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

[Droopy]

OK, I've exhausted the search options and can't find anything...

I've got a 1988 Bayliner Capri with a 5.0L OMC Cobra. Took the sterndrive off to replace the transom bracket shift cable. That all went fine.

Checked the engine alignment. The tool goes all the way in with a little pressure (three fingers) but takes a little effort to remove (Nothing serious, but have to hold on to it to pull.) I put a thin film of grease on the small section and the spline marks seem equally heavy all the way around and go all the way up the small diameter section. I think the alignment is good?

I went to put the drive back on. It goes in most of the way, went you carefully rotate the U joint you can feel the splines align and it goes another (maybe) 1/4 of an inch and hits a hard stop. There is still 1 5/16" that it still needs to go in. The studs are just starting to go into their holes, so can't "pull" it on that way. I did try a strap around the engine, but even with moderate pull, it wasn't moving. Didn't want to try more as I'll probably break something.

What did I miss? (And, yes, I have the factory service manual and don't see anything else in there either.)

Thanks,

John

 

[Speak]

Re: Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

Check the driveshaft bellows. They have been known to prevent the drive from going back on. I think they shrink/swell - from what I think may be grease put on the lip. I had the same problem struggling for hours trying to get the drive on. I Replaced the bellows and boom the drive popped right on.

 

[Droopy]

Re: Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

I think I may just replace it. I just went and raised the front mounts until I couldn't even insert the tool. Then lowered it until everything was balanced. Same exact thing. Used grease on the splines as a witness mark. They are going into the coupler almost and inch, then stopping. It LOOKS like the U joint is clearing the bellows, but maybe looks are deceiving. Or maybe it's binding on the forward end of the bellows... Regardless, FRUSTRATED!!

Thanks for the help,

John

Check the driveshaft bellows. They have been known to prevent the drive from going back on. I think they shrink/swell - from what I think may be grease put on the lip. I had the same problem struggling for hours trying to get the drive on. I Replaced the bellows and boom the drive popped right on.

 

[Reinell-BRXL-191]

Re: Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

Check to make sure, you didn't pack the coupler full of grease, splines like grease, but if you pound a bunch in to the bottom, the grease cannot compress and will keep you from getting the drive back on

 

[Droopy]

Re: Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

Just a followup. I eventually gave up and took it in the the mechanic. $50 bucks later the drive was on. Nothing was wrong. He used his "persuader" to get it past the first O-ring... I gotta figure out where it's ok to hit this thing with a sledge...

 

[HCMQA]

Re: Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

You should never have to hit it.
If you have grease on the o rings it will hydra lock and you will not get it on.
Plus the drive has to fit into the bellows so you have to grease the drive itself.

 

[bezerk1]

Re: Another Cobra Sterndrive Install thread...

First time I reinstalled my drive I struggled. I thought the alignment was perfect but didn't know for sure. I could not get the drive all the way on. I had it off 3 or 4 times, and triple checked everything. I was sure everything was right. It started to get frustrating. Finally, I gave it one swift kick, and it slid right on. It was hanging up on the O-rings. You wouldn't think that an O-ring would be that tight, but that is all it was.