OMC out drive stuck down.

[Manipulator]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Just about all OMC's get water in the tilt box. From what I have learned, there is no fix. It is a flaw in the design on the units that have the tilt gear assembly. The unit is so heavy it stresses the hell out of the shaft and seal. Every year I take mine out of the lake; there is water in the tilt assembly. I thought about packing it with marine grease but not sure if that is a good idea. I just drain it and refill it. The thing is the tilt fluid drains out where the water comes in at the shaft so it's always only half full. Since the unit only goes up once and down once a year it doesn't seem like it going to hurt it.

 

[Phantom17]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

I just 1/2 successfully removed the tilt motor, 1/2 because only the front half came out. I'll have to hand tighten the bolts and try to pull it out again. (Someone mentioned that, I thought I had the whole thing). Anyway, it was full of rust, sh!@, and all kinds of nasty looking sludge. I think this "might" be the problem. I did not remove the outdrive, but in poking around, I think my o/d might need a little attention, in the form of good lubes........<br /><br />Does anyone know a good trick at removing the gear thats inside the clutch huosing, or will that drop out when I get the rest of the motor (and the attached shaft) out. Seems like it should just drop once the shaft is out.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

DON'T take the clutch pack apart. You'll play heII getting it back together. There is no indication at this point that there is anything wrong with it. Drain and refill the gearbox, clean up the motor and test it. There are new motors available for about $60 if you need it.

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Get thee a manual!<br /><br />The gear on the clutch/gear pack is held on by a snap ring. Pretty difficult to do with the drive on. That gear box most likely needs a reseal job.<br />Again, you need the drive off to do it. Also, The gear box uses regular 30W oil.<br /><br />I would get another tilt motor for sure. Maybe rebuild the old one for a spare provided it wasn't to bad rusted.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

note to manipulator all omc 400 and 800 that we service are filled with grease because we can't keep water out of them.the grease seems to work ok and doesn't get washed out by the water. just remember to drain tilt box for winter!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Originally posted by marinemech1:<br /> note to manipulator all omc 400 and 800 that we service are filled with grease because we can't keep water out of them.the grease seems to work ok and doesn't get washed out by the water. just remember to drain tilt box for winter!

MM, I like that idea. The grease may also help to keep water from migrating up into the tilt motor. A while back I tapped a drain plug into my tilt gear case because it was always getting water in it.<br /><br />Would just regular old blue marine grease work and would you just fill it up to the fill hole or beyond?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Originally posted by marinemech1:<br /> note to manipulator all omc 400 and 800 that we service are filled with grease because we can't keep water out of them.the grease seems to work ok and doesn't get washed out by the water. just remember to drain tilt box for winter!

If I pack it with grease, will I also need to add tilt fluid? Or just leave it dry but packed with grease?

 

[Phantom17]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Where can I get one of these motors for around $60???? everywhere I've called has them in the $330.00 range!!!!!!

 

[Manipulator]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Is there anyway to convert the thing to manual? That is buying something to keep the thing in position and locked when the boat is in the water and the unit is down. Then something to hold it upright when transporting the boat. I see these rods you can buy to hold outboards up while the boat is on the trailer. Then again its pretty heavy unit. I wonder if you could push it up by yourself.<br /><br /> If mine goes out, I'm not paying no $300 for a motor.

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Originally posted by jh19:<br /> Where can I get one of these motors for around $60???? everywhere I've called has them in the $330.00 range!!!!!!

Ebay.

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Originally posted by Manipulator:<br /> Is there anyway to convert the thing to manual?

I don't know how you would do it unless you just remove the quadrant gear altogether. You want your drive just floppin around back there? How would you get it up for trailering?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

jh19<br /> http://search.ebay.com/tilt-motor-omc_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40 <br /><br />Keith<br />I have no idea. It was just a thought. I figured since so many people have problems with these that someone would have developed something.

 

[Phantom17]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

OK, I thought you were talking a parts store. I've been scanning ebay already. I actually wondered about the manual thing too.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

manipulator: we use omc/bombardier wheel bearing grease but i would think any waterproof grease would work we also top off oil in tilt box

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Originally posted by jh19:<br /> OK, I thought you were talking a parts store. I've been scanning ebay already. I actually wondered about the manual thing too.

Keep watching jh, I've seen them for 59.95 and I'm sure it was on ebay. I just went and looked but didn't see them this time. Also, I saw what appeared to be different variations of the stringer tilt motor. I was not aware that there were any variations during the run of stringers. Here is a link to one of those variations. It has a flange on it. I'm suspicious that it is not what it is represented to be.<br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4542827429&category=26455

 

[Boatist]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

The tilt gear box may not be the best design on the planet but it can be sealed up. My 1980 unit got water in it about 10 years ago. I pulled the big cover off and removed the snap ring that holds the small gear on. Blocked the outdrive up and had wife hole it just in case. Tapped with light hammer on the small gear and shaft and drove the shaft and clutch out of the the small gear and out. I checked the shaft and bushing or bearing for wear but it was good. When I reassembled I used OMC triple guard gresas on the shaft and OMC sealler around the seals. There is room for 2 seals so I put two in. While I had the clutch pack out I took it apart and cleaned and reoiled. I was unable to get all the shim back in and get the retaining ring back on even by compressing in a vise and a pair of vice grips. Now I wish I had removed at least one more shim as have never been able to kick the outdrive up even with full power in reverse it will not kick up. I have never ran it aground or hit a log or rock and will not to test. I would rather that in full reverse it would Kick up. I would rather it kicks up a little eaiser as long does not kick up in normal reverse. Also replaced the big O-Ring around the big cover.<br /><br />Anyway when I put it back together it has never had any more water in it. I Change the oil twice a year to be sure. Bad habit but when backed into a beach we use the outdrive to get out and board and even then no water in the clutch. <br /><br />It may be because my boat is a light 21 foot aluminum Crestliner and tilt clutch is not very deep in the water.

 

[Phantom17]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

I did find that when I removed the snap ring and small gear that drives the tilt gear, and lifted the unit again, that when I put the small gear back, it holds the drive up. Not easy to get to the snap ring when in the lower position, or I'd make it a manual for now. Up, not a problem snap ring right there, down, the damn oputdrive is in the way!!!! Boy do I wish I was a machinist, I'd make a manual hand crank for the damn thing!!!!

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

There is room for 2 seals so I put two in. While I had the clutch pack out I took it apart and cleaned and reoiled. I was unable to get all the shim back in and get the retaining ring back on even by compressing in a vise and a pair of vice grips. Now I wish I had removed at least one more shim as have never been able to kick the outdrive up even with full power in reverse it will not kick up.

First off there is supposed to be two seals on the big drive shaft, back to back. <br /><br />Secondly, most often the leaks come from the smaller drive shaft coming from the motor. If you don't reseal that too, you will still get water. GLM offers a complete reseal kit just for the tilt housing. Not very expensive at all. <br /><br />Last, there is an adjustment to the clutch... at least there is on mine... via a hex headed bolt in the center of the big shaft. There is a torque spec for it, I don't have my manual nearby to give it, if torqued properly, the unit is supposed to elevate if you hit something, but will not move when in reverse.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Kagee is correct by removig shims you may have upset reverse lock adjustment<br />but if it works ok don't mess with it

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC out drive stuck down.

Originally posted by marinemech1:<br /> Kagee is correct by removig shims you may have upset reverse lock adjustment<br />but if it works ok don't mess with it

jh, you absolutely do not want that outdrive to kick up while you are giving it reverse throttle. Yike NO NO NO!<br /><br />If you can't get the shims back in I would take it somewhere with a hydraulic press. <br /><br />Kagee, earlier units may have had two seals. The replacement is a single double lip seal. Either way, it probably won't stop water from getting into the gearbox. The hole is most likely elongated. (probably cannot see it with the naked eye)There are other tricks to deal with water/oil in the tilt motor. Maybe I'll start a new post.