OMC coupler problem?

[Oatsmandave]

Hello Kiddies! I hope you all can help me out here.Ok,Here goes my story.I bought a 88 bayliner capri with a 3.0 OMC drive.(this is probabaly my whole problem!) I go out one beautiful day and I get about 2 miles out and my boat dies!Try to turn it over and it was like my batteries were dying which I knew better since I had just recharged them both the day before.I tried to turn it over again and then turned the key off and the starter was still trying to turn over(with the key OFF!!)So I turn off all battery power and get a tow to the marina.Ok,I am figuring my ignition or solenoid took a poop on me.I go have a beer(or 4)come back to boat,turned the key and she started right up!!!!So in my dumb infinate wisdom I decide to try going out again! I get about 300 yards out and give her gas and she was going good then she acted like I had pushed in the clutch of a car and she revved up pretty good.I take it out of gear and put it back in and she did it again.I take the doghouse off and smell burned rubber and look a little deeper and see rubber chunks all over the rear of the engine.This piece reminds me of a wax toilet ring.So here is my dilema.I know a bit about outboard motors but NOTHING about an I/O so in otherwords I am "kind of" mechanically inclined.What caused this problem?Is it worth me trying to do it myself? The engine is a brand new factory engine but is void of warranty because it was put in 2 years ago.When I got this boat it ran good and I would say the motor has MAYBE 15 hours on it and I put most of them on her.Any insight would be GREAT (except no criticizing that I bought an OMC Bayliner lol) Thanks for all you guys help.This site has been a great asset to me and I HOPE it will be on this issue also.I would like to get her going so I can at least do a fall 'ssippi cruise. Thanks again,Dave

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC coupler problem?

Howdy Dave,

I am surprised that a bunch of people didn't jump right in here with the obvious reason.


As you have surmised, you have experienced the dreaded coupler failure.

The RPM jumping way up and rubber remnants all over the place is a telltale sign.


You MUST remove the engine to replace it.

You should obtain an OMC manual for the correct year and do a little reading if you're planning on doing the job yourself.

There are many places on the web to obtain most OMC parts. Some parts are no longer available. You should be able to find most maintenance type parts for your engine.





Cheers,

Rick

 

[rodbolt]

Re: OMC coupler problem?

knowing its a bayliner of the late 80's very crefully check the transom and the stringrs. most coupler failures are due to shaft alignment issues, due to settled/rotted stringers or a flexing transome.
the other culprit can be a bearing failing in the outdrive.
but normally its a shaft alignment issue.

 

[Oatsmandave]

Re: OMC coupler problem?

Thank you for your input on my problem.I have looked at my transom,stringers etc. and everything seems pretty solid still.You mentioned a outdrive bearing going out(possible).That coupler was so damn hot that it burned the hell out of my fingers when was feeling where this coupler was.The thing was practically melted!! Could that have been the reason why the motor wouldn't turn over as fast as it should?Like I said in the post,I went and had a few beers and came back 2 hours later and it seemed like the batteries turned it over the way it should be.What is all of this gonna entail?Should I replace this bearing and where exactally would it be?