Cobra outdrive issue

[OldBoatGuyToo]

While winterizing a 1987 Larson 190 I recently acquired, I found the threaded “nut” that the outdrive water jacket drain screw goes into had somehow become detached inside the housing. I can see it, grab it with tweezers but cannot get it to stay in place so I can start the screw in the thread. What’s the best way to rectify this? Do I have to dismantle the outdrive to get in there? Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,...... I don't do Cobras, but,.....
I believe that screw does absolutely nothing, 'n is to be Never removed,.....
'n yes, drop the lower unit to put it back in,.....
I've been told, that there used to be a sticker over it to hide it, so folks don't unscrew it,....

 

[Lou C]

Yep the only way that I know of to put that back together is to pull the drive and fish the retainer out of the water passage, then put it back together with gasket sealer, it is a water passage so you don't want that fitting to leak.

 

[OldBoatGuyToo]

Yep the only way that I know of to put that back together is to pull the drive and fish the retainer out of the water passage, then put it back together with gasket sealer, it is a water passage so you don't want that fitting to leak.

Well, I appreciate your input but the mechanic who had been taking care of the boat for some years told me if I didn’t remove the screw there’d likely be water trapped inside the lower unit. And he was right. A fair amount came out when I loosened the screw both by the screw and down further. This might not be a big deal in some places but the temperatures here get down to minus 30° and lower sometimes.
I also found some caulk or sealer around the hole on the inside that must have been holding the retainer in place. No hope for an easy fix then I guess although once it’s really dry I might try putt g some sealer in there and positioning the retainer long enough for it to hold. Obviously I’m not thrilled about dropping the drive.

 

[Lou C]

Well I have owned this boat and winterized it here in NY where it does get down to about zero for 22 years. And not only have I never removed that screw, but there is no mention of doing that in the owners' or shop manual. What you do is this:
Go up to the engine and disconnect the raw water intake hose at the thermostat housing, point the hose down so it drains.
Next remove the 3 drain screws on the pivot housing (one on the port side and 2 on the starboard side) and rod out the holes to see if they drain, tilt the drive down to help it drain. Then replace the drain plugs. Now go back up to that hose you disconnected, hold it up and fill it with -100 marine antifreeze till it comes out the water intakes on the outdrive. Then reconnect that hose. There is absolutely no reason to remove that big screw to drain that water passage. If you are holding water there, there is something else wrong. That water passage leads right to the outdrive water intakes, if it doesn't drain just by putting the drive down, something is blocking the water intakes, the water passage just above them, or the water transfer tube inside the outdrive.

 

[OldBoatGuyToo]

Well I have owned this boat and winterized it here in NY where it does get down to about zero for 22 years. And not only have I never removed that screw, but there is no mention of doing that in the owners' or shop manual. What you do is this:
Go up to the engine and disconnect the raw water intake hose at the thermostat housing, point the hose down so it drains.
Next remove the 3 drain screws on the pivot housing (one on the port side and 2 on the starboard side) and rod out the holes to see if they drain, tilt the drive down to help it drain. Then replace the drain plugs. Now go back up to that hose you disconnected, hold it up and fill it with -100 marine antifreeze till it comes out the water intakes on the outdrive. Then reconnect that hose. There is absolutely no reason to remove that big screw to drain that water passage. If you are holding water there, there is something else wrong. That water passage leads right to the outdrive water intakes, if it doesn't drain just by putting the drive down, something is blocking the water intakes, the water passage just above them, or the water transfer tube inside the outdrive.

I do appreciate the info and I’ll look at it all again. I removed all the hoses leading to the thermostat housing and even removed the housing itself. I want to replace the thermostat and a couple of the hoses anyway. I did pour pink antifreeze into the long hose that goes to the stern. It may be that some of that came out when I unscrewed that bolt. Not sure as it’s hard to see what color it is. I’ve downloaded a manual and will look at how to get into the spot where the retainer is but I’m still hoping I can get it back in place without all that. I’ve worked on engines for over fifty years and boats for almost that long. Not stern drives though. Maybe there’s a reason for that! Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

I do appreciate the info and I’ll look at it all again. I removed all the hoses leading to the thermostat housing and even removed the housing itself. I want to replace the thermostat and a couple of the hoses anyway. I did pour pink antifreeze into the long hose that goes to the stern. It may be that some of that came out when I unscrewed that bolt. Not sure as it’s hard to see what color it is. I’ve downloaded a manual and will look at how to get into the spot where the retainer is but I’m still hoping I can get it back in place without all that. I’ve worked on engines for over fifty years and boats for almost that long. Not stern drives though. Maybe there’s a reason for that! Thanks.

Ayuh,..... Putting the drive down, should drain that,.....

 

[Lou C]

OMC Cobra Winterization Procedure | Crowley Marine

THIS IS A GENERALIZED METHOD FOR REFERENCE PURPOSESACTUAL METHODS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR MOTOR MAY VARY

www.crowleymarine.com

the official OMC version.