OMC stern drive gear up-date

Nauti Guy

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2016
Messages
8
Back in the 80's OMC had problems with the gears in their out-drives, the fix was to change the gears to what they called 5 deg. gears, this was a free fix to owners of these out-drives and when the up-date fix was completed they put a sticker on the top of the flame arrestor cover indicating the updated gears. Does anyone know what years were affected by this up-date and most important what year was this up-date no longer needed. I am looking at some boats in the 80's model years, some of the stickers could be missing I don't want to get one that hasn't been up-dated. Better to know what year it was no longer needed!
 

kenny nunez

Captain
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
3,311
I was a dealer during those days and I cannot imagine a Cobra still running today that does not have 5* gearset. Maybe some 140 hp models but all the other V6-V8s would be a miracle if it still had the straight dogs and was not jumping out.
To check if the interrupter system still works try pushing on the spring loaded rocker to make the engine “stutter “ briefly, that should tell you that it must have the 5* gearset.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,824
I would simply suggest not to buy something with OMC anything
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,986
Ayuh,.... OMC has been outa business, for Decades,.....

Way to many boats out there, to even look at an OMC powered boat,.....
Unless ya buy it, Plannin' on a total refit with another driveline,......
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Back in the 80's OMC had problems with the gears in their out-drives, the fix was to change the gears to what they called 5 deg. gears, this was a free fix to owners of these out-drives and when the up-date fix was completed they put a sticker on the top of the flame arrestor cover indicating the updated gears. Does anyone know what years were affected by this up-date and most important what year was this up-date no longer needed. I am looking at some boats in the 80's model years, some of the stickers could be missing I don't want to get one that hasn't been up-dated. Better to know what year it was no longer needed!
Howdy,

This was mainly a (1986-ON) Cobra Clutch-Dog "problem" where they initially they thought 3° "dogs" was the problem) that eventually turned out to actually be a shift cable problem (black/red was how to identify the newer cables)

Once all the shift cables were replaced, they found that even when using 3° "Dogs", the problem was largely eliminated.

Now having said that......

I am looking at some boats in the 80's model years, some of the stickers could be missing I don't want to get one that hasn't been up-dated. Better to know what year it was no longer needed!

I'll agree with all the others. DON'T consider used boats with OMC anywhere in the description unless you're planning what I did in my sig below, the boat is largely "free" and you already have the complete Volvo or Mercruiser engine/drive ready to go in..........

Cheers,

Rick
 
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