Electric shift stringer omc stern drive

Dirtymike20

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Aug 9, 2021
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I got a boat and the lower unit is cracked. But I also have another boat same motor.. same lower unit.
My question is can I just pull the whole drive off the boat? The throttle cables are disconnected already, figured I'd just swap both drives and not mess with lower unit.
Its a v6 3.8l 1984 hammond omc stern drive
Both boats are identical.
Can you just pull the bumpers off and take the bolts where the drive pivots up and down? Then pull it off. It doesn't have a drive spline it has the two gears that mesh together. Like I said the shift cables are already disconnected and pulled through the housing.unnamed.jpg
 

southkogs

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'84 drive wouldn't be electric shift. Should be mechanical.

BUT, if both are the same lower unit: pull your drive, stick your good upper on top of the good lower, reinstall drive after maintenance and enjoy.

You can swap the entire drive if you know the upper and such is good on the other drive.
 

Redrig

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Oct 13, 2009
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yes you can just swap over the drives. If they are both 84's they are not electric shifts , they are mechanical shifts.

how are the ball gears on both of them ? anything below 50% wear should be replaced. So if one of the boats has better ball gears swap them over as well.

and be very careful with your shift cables while removing the drives, that cable is very expensive to replace
 

Dirtymike20

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Aug 9, 2021
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yes you can just swap over the drives. If they are both 84's they are not electric shifts , they are mechanical shifts.

how are the ball gears on both of them ? anything below 50% wear should be replaced. So if one of the boats has better ball gears swap them over as well.

and be very careful with your shift cables while removing the drives, that cable is very expensive to replace
Thanks for the advice!
 

Dirtymike20

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Joined
Aug 9, 2021
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'84 drive wouldn't be electric shift. Should be mechanical.

BUT, if both are the same lower unit: pull your drive, stick your good upper on top of the good lower, reinstall drive after maintenance and enjoy.

You can swap the entire drive if you know the upper and such is good on the other drive.
Thanks
 

Dirtymike20

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Aug 9, 2021
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So I'm assuming that there is nothing else that would be attached to the housing/ or running through?. Other than the shifting cables..like hoses or wires? I dont really see anything.
 

Redrig

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Oct 13, 2009
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there is a clip that has to be unbolted before removing the drive.

Its right where the shift cable goes through the intermediate . be sure to remove the clip or you will rip the cable
 

Dirtymike20

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Aug 9, 2021
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Okay thanks. Is it pretty noticeable and accessible? Or literally where it goes through?
Also. Inside of housing. (Boat side) or outside the housing. (Between drive and mount housing)
 

Redrig

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Oct 13, 2009
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860
on the outside , yes its noticeable. Right where the cable passes through into the boat.

tilt the drive all the way up and you have easy access
 
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