New to omc bought I think 78

[skinny1965]

Ok so just picked up a boat with omc 120 4cyl
And electric shift outdrive
Motor wouldn’t turn over off starter or by hand

pulled starter tried prying on ring gear no go

Pulled drive put a pry bar on ball coupling and it turns
Went back to outdrive and turned that ball coupler on it
So not sure what or why

like to run motor with out drive on it for for at least enough to get warm just not sure how to get water to it
I’m going to look for a flush kit but think hoses are pretty formed to fit

also thinking of replacing the impeller but not sure what is involved

any pointers be great for first time Omc guy

 

[Earl Cordova]

Sold my 86 OMC in 2005 since parts were hard or impossible to find.
Plus I did not like that big rubber gasket in the transom.

 

[Ferson206]

Ok so just picked up a boat with omc 120 4cyl
And electric shift outdrive
Motor wouldn’t turn over off starter or by hand

pulled starter tried prying on ring gear no go

Pulled drive put a pry bar on ball coupling and it turns
Went back to outdrive and turned that ball coupler on it
So not sure what or why

like to run motor with out drive on it for for at least enough to get warm just not sure how to get water to it
I’m going to look for a flush kit but think hoses are pretty formed to fit

also thinking of replacing the impeller but not sure what is involved

any pointers be great for first time Omc guy

I have a 1980 I bought last fall, turned out to have lots of issues, so the past several months I've learned a lot. It's running well enough now for multi-hour trips in Puget Sound, still sorting out various issues. It appears we have the same engine (an inline 4c 120hp), except mine has a some different cooling components. And my sterndrive looks not exactly same but similar to yours. I've done two impeller replacements. Not easy. They involve removing the sterndrive (that's the hard part) and then separating upper and lower gear units to access impeller. If you haven't already, getting the shop manual has been a huge help to me.

 

[kenny nunez]

Put a garden hose in the hose that goes from the transom to the thermostat housing.

 

[southkogs]

Yank the drive from the boat. Separate the upper and lower gear case. Impeller is at the bottom of the upper gear case. Make sure the upper gear case will turn by hand/hand tool. If it will, then you're in good shape there. If it doesn't then you might have a locked up upper gear case.

With the drive removed, try rotating the engine from the crank to see if it's free. If so, then try to get it started and running.

Do a gut check on this boat: the electric shift OMC is an antiquated drive with many parts no longer available. I like the drive (honestly) but it's old and kinda' finicky.

Welcome aboard.

 

[skinny1965]

Currently the drive is off and motor spins
Going to run it without drive
I had also turned the coupling on drive
It turns also so not sure