Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

[nemo963]

So you guys pulled through for me yesterday and now I'm back.

I change the lube (upper, lower, intermediate) on my '76 OMC Stringer and all went well. So I dropped it all the way down and hooked the water hose adapter to it (flat plate that clamps on to run it) and fired the thing up for a bit. All was going good, then I noticed a change in pitch and figured somthing was wrong. I pulled the motor cover as it ran looking for the cause, after a few minutes of looking I noticed the temp gauge going up so I shut if off. I looked and seen my water adapter had vibrated off the little screen a couple inches and I think it stopped getting water. I know these things can fry the impeller even after a few seconds, I was probably close to 2-4 minutes. It did start with water but it went dry or close to it.

I let the boat cool off for a few hours then took it to the local lake (yea it's more like a big pond). I put the boat in and fired it, let it warm up at the launch point and it got to 150 and seemed to stay. I then took it out and ran it around the lake for a hour or so, both under load and idling while the kids swam and the guage stayed right around 150-160. So is my impeller ok? I am taking the boat out of state next week for a ski trip with the kids and I have never done the impeller and would hate to tear into it with only 5 days to get it done and right if it will be ok. Will it be ok till I get back and have a few weeks (or during the winter) to replace it.

One last thing, I noticed in my book that when checking the ball gears you need to replace them at 1/3 their normal size, but I cant find the normal size (I have been told by a marine place in town it's 50%, which is right...and what size do they start to I can take the calipers to mine and see how close they are, if I do the water impeller I would probably just do those as well)

Thanks for the advice,

 

[run2car]

Re: Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

Sounds like yo got lucky on the impeller. A good thing about the stringer drives is the size of the impeller, they are big so you should be ok. 150-160 is perfect. As for the ball gears, 50-60 percent wear you should change them, at a third gone you still have plenty of use left. Just be careful not to run the engine with the tilt up

 

[kenny40391]

Re: Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

where can i find that waterhose adapter ? im in dire need of one myself. thanks kenny

 

[GMC2003]

Re: Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

Academy. There isn't one specifically for OMC. It's for a small merc outboard, but it works. Looks like this, mine's kinda bent up.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

Academy. There isn't one specifically for OMC. It's for a small merc outboard, but it works. Looks like this, mine's kinda bent up.

Actually there is. It replaces one of the caps for the drive pivots and has a male garden hose fitting. See this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=336474&page=1

Here's a comparison of good vs. worn out ball gears:

 

[Redrig]

Re: Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

you dont need any specific adapter, go to any auto parts store and get one of these.

http://images.oreillyauto.com/parts/img/medium/pst/orly_afkit_051408.jpg

you basically Tee this into the hose running from your outdrive up to the water pump and you can connect your hose right up to it, works great.

I saw a thread on here a while back showing the specifics. but it is cheap and easy. beats buying a 50.00 adapter that does the same thing.

 

[GMC2003]

Re: Impeller question on OMC stringer electic shift

Adapter - $50
Flusher - $20
Tee - $5
Working impeller, priceless

All up to you, I do recommend the adapter or tee even though I use the flusher. With the adapter or tee, you can test FWD/REV while the engine is running, but don't do it too long, i've read somewhere the lower unit may overheat..... anyhow, my .02.