Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

[TacticalSolutions]

I have tried glossing over numerous threads, but after an hour....I decided to go BatS**T rogue and just start a new thread. I am "That guy" when it comes to stupid mechanical issues and questions....as earlier in life, I was able to pay someone to maintain my boats....3 teens later...and retired at 46....not so much. I have read from the book of "OMC Stringer bad....." and had my come to Jesus moment with the unit...But, alas.....There appears to be a learning curve for the "problematic" out-drives.....I came across a great 1969 Fiberform San Juan (20' cabin cruiser) with a 255cid buick (Kaiser?) 155hp v6 and an OMC stern-drive.

The learning curve for me is understanding how many Fricken variables exist on the 800 series? I can "*** u me" that it is an electric shift, earlier model, but have yet to verify, or locate any clear identifiable markings inside or outside...so, I am not entirely clear what year the stern drive/motor combo is (original 1969? or?).

The lower unit on the OMC clearly needs replaced (broken housing where prop butts up against housing).

My interest at this point is:
A) Replace the whole damn outdrive with a known working one or;
B) Replace the lower unit.

It seems a safer bet to get a whole outdrive, but I keep seeing year specific models, and I am unclear how universally these 800 series work together? I cannot find a plate or tag on the drive (inside transom or out), so I do not know if I can just purchase an 800 series across the board or do I need to somehow identify the exact year mine was made? I know I have to identify to a point (electric versus mechanical shift).

I put my faith in all things boating in your capable hands....


Timothy "Tac" Minyard

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

The year suggests you have an electric shift stringer but we need pictures man. Take the guess work out of it Tac.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

first point to clarify in looking for parts or swappable drives is that OMC didn't use the designation "800 Series" until 1978, although many seem to want to call the earlier drives that, an 800 series has a hydromechanical or mechanical shifting lower unit.
All 1962-1977 OMC units were electric shifting lowers and just called "The OMC Sterndrive" by OMC but there were several variations and 3 or 4 generations of them.

Some things to look for and match up in a donor drive candidate: Hi profile or Low profile case (Hi being 4" longer overall), trucourse or external steering, gear ratio
Lower unit - correct number of mounting bolts and avoid the "bullet" ones

a good read here:
http://hhscott.com/evinrude/omc_stringer.htm

about your V6:
http://hhscott.com/evinrude/buick_v6.htm

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Also look at the shifter.It will either shift with the handle or have push buttons.
The handle is probably easier to live with as the electric shift was prone to water problems.

 

[TacticalSolutions]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

A smart phone attempt at pics

 

[TacticalSolutions]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Some additional....

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

you have a high profile stringer drive. As such there is no later model replacement for the whole outdrive leg. They only made the later hydro-mechanical and mechanical drives in the low profile format.

I have a '75 electric shift boat that I grafted a 1979 hydro-mechanical unit to, back in late '79. It works fine today BUT they were both low profile.

you have any idea of the year of that thing? a real rats nest of wires and I have never seen exhaust manifolds exactly like those.

Nice looking boat, though! There are still a lot of electric shift stringers plugging away out there.

 

[TacticalSolutions]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Boomyal,
The boat is a '69.....and more or less indications are the buick v6 and stringer are also....still looking into it. The sorting on the wiring began today. The guy that had it before me (presumably anyway) used 110v wiring in place of 12v wiring, such as a 110v power strip connected to the main 12v battery with red hash marks marking each plug in for positive...apparently smoking a bowl WITH your mushrooms before you do wiring is the most inspiring approach.....The motor turns freely and has compression, but have yet to do a compression check. Looks like it was running rich...and I still have to get the new freeze plugs in, but I am going to flush the S**T outta that cooling system first. The ballast resistor looks combat proven....so I have to see about replacing it....but I cannot see a part number on it...

Once I get the electrical sorted, I can have the motor ready to turn over. Everything looks good, but I will change all fluids, get the motor to TDC and re-prime the motor oil and more of less "foreplay" the motor into the mood....I hope to have everything sorted then begin the task of locating a replacement outdrive. I need to get myself educated to familiarity level with the high profile drive so I can get this classy mistress into the water.

Consequently....it is a shift, not a push button control at the helm....the boat is structurally sound....just have to look into the Stove/Sink/Fridge.....a good wash.....and a weekend to get as many PINKS as possible so I can abuse the S**T out of my smoker....Meanwhile....it is all on the little 1958 Elgin 14' runabout to get the work done! The wife just made a bunch of jigs, so aside from assuring her I want to bite them....I need to catch something STAT....

you have a high profile stringer drive. As such there is no later model replacement for the whole outdrive leg. They only made the later hydro-mechanical and mechanical drives in the low profile format.

I have a '75 electric shift boat that I grafted a 1979 hydro-mechanical unit to, back in late '79. It works fine today BUT they were both low profile.

you have any idea of the year of that thing? a real rats nest of wires and I have never seen exhaust manifolds exactly like those.

Nice looking boat, though! There are still a lot of electric shift stringers plugging away out there.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Sounds like a project. Just remember that things can get real costly with these old Stringer drives real quick. Know when to pull the plug if you discover the rabbit hole goes to deep.

 

[TacticalSolutions]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

To revisit this outdrive issue......can anyone surmise what in the heck would have caused the housing to crack/break completely like this?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Gear failure?
Take it apart?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

^^^^ That's gonna' be my guess. Somehow direct pressure pushed straight out the shaft ... don't think I've ever seen that before.

 

[floattest]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Water in lower and freezing temps, possibly.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

Do you have a craigslist where you live?:noidea:

 

[bigdirty]

Re: Hey, look! Another OMC Newbie......(Me....I am the newbie....)

ya, i'd guess a freeze up could have done that damage, seen that a lot where I live (mid ontario, canada) and good luck with the boat and drive my friend.. Ive heard a lot of bad things about fiberform.. :/ and I to know all about the coming to religion aspect of owning an old omc driven boat (81 chris craft, 800 stringer drive.. and that drive looks even older than mine was..) Traded it last season, and it didn't get winterized properly.. split about the same spot, as well as the upper housing too. :S Something to consider if it looks like its going to become a never ending nightmare, (finding parts/replacement drive) but the boat hull/shell is nice and you like it, redo the transom and re-power with merc or maybe volvo.. i've seen quite a few in my area that have been done like that and it sure beats scraping an otherwise nice boat. Just my $.02

Matt