OMC 3.8L 6 cyl I/O The engine has locked up and will not turn over

[helfroz3]

I have a 3.8 liter OMC(GM)motor. I was just off the dock area and the engine quit. I managed to restart it and then I heard a clunk while still in neutral and it died. It was running at 2600 rpms or so,(out of gear). I have now tried to turn it over using the crankcase bolt and it won't turn over, the bold just gets tighter. Afraid I would break the bolt, I tried the other way(counter clockwise, but the bolt just gets loose. It's not in gear and when I put it in gear and try to start it, nothing happens. When I put it in neutral, the motor tries to turn over but it can't. How do you remove the outdrive and see if the problem is in there or the motor? I guess a better question is, where do I start?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

yeah it sounds like the upper gearcase of your drive is done. Check the fluid in the upper. Then to disengage the drive, you just need to remove the rubber steering bumpers to reveal the 4 bolts holding the trunnion caps on. A couple of people can just hold the drive sitting on the ground or otherwise supported so as to not stress the shift cable once the caps are off disengaging the ball gears. To fully remove the drive, consult factory manual step by step for cable removal.

 

[helfroz3]

Great, ok, i guess the rubber steering gaurds just slide out. How whould you suppurt it when the bolts are removed?

 

[southkogs]

You'll need someone to help you hold it up, and perhaps slip a block of wood under the skeg. I've actually made a cradle for mine that I can rest the drive on. Biggest deal on yours is not to hurt that shift cable.

 

[helfroz3]

Cool, thank you very much, I'm glad it is not the motor but this sounds complicated also. I'm getting a book so I am hoping that will help also.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

I'm glad it is not the motor.

the objective here is to determine if the issue is in the drive or the motor, you don't know anything until you disengage the drive and try cranking the engine.

 

[helfroz3]

Ok, sounds like I can move it out a little bit so the 2 gears are apart. I will be very careful not to stretch the cable. I have blocks of wood I can use for underneath to support it. thank you so much for the help. The bad part is I checked the top screw with the dip stick, no oil. Didn't know about that one when I changed the oil this spring, just the check oil screw right at the back of the boat. I am afraid I really messed something up.

 

[vinnie1234]

When I remove my outdrive, I have two folding sawhorses that I set behind the boat perpendicular to the transom. I find if you tilt the drive up a bit, remove the bottom two bolts first and then the top two last, you can kind of hold it up with one hand to remove the last bolt. Then I just heave it up on the sawhorses and bob's your uncle.
I agree with howard, sounds like your upper bit the biscuit.

 

[southkogs]

Don't be too freaked out just yet ... finding a comparable upper may require patience, but it's possible without costing a fortune.

 

[vinnie1234]

I picked up a used outdrive for $100. It was from an electric shift, but many of the parts are useable. I was very glad I got it. I originally picked it up for the tilt motor, but when I took my upper apart to have a look, I ended up gutting it for parts.
Point being, keep your eyes peeled for cheap/basket case boats and parts. you can get them for a fraction of the price of individual parts, and you can never have too many spare parts!
Good luck man!

 

[helfroz3]

Ok, I got it split just enough to crank the engine. It fired right off. I put back together. I unhooked the shift wire from the motor, How far can i move the out drive back before I mess up the cable? I guess there is a clamp for the wire inside, I don't want to mess that up. You guys are awesome. thank you

 

[helfroz3]

Hi, I am going to pull the out drive this morning, got the cable disconnected and the bolt off that clamps the cable, after I get it off, what should I be looking for inside? the book shows how to take off the top cover and stuff, then what? I guess I am a little nervous at this stage. Again, thank you all so very much.