OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

[natispotatis]

Hello, I've been lurking for days, using much of the information already supplied on this forum. I still haven't figured out my issue. I have a 1985 OMC Stringer outdrive and the tilt just went out. I hear the solenoids clicking and have 12V to the motor. I pulled the motor (using several new cuss words) and bench tested it and it spun really well. It seemed to have lots of torque. I thought maybe I had a bad ground so I put it back in and got the same results. An OMC tech over the phone thought for sure that I just had a faulty motor that wasn't pushing enough. Like a dummy, I went ahead and purchased another motor off ebay, installed it and am in the same predicament. I hear it wanting to engage and the motor is clicking. I know it's not a wiring issue because I hooked up a jumper pack directly to the installed motor. It randomly worked for a second or two when I was trying to diagnose it. That's it. I can move the outdrive up and down with some force and have always been able to. Can someone help me? I'm losing my mind! I hear it can be a hammer blow coupling perhaps. How do I get this out and how do I know if it's bad? Can I take the tilt clutch out of the housing, run the motor and see if the worm gear moves? I'm somewhat mechanically inclined but am new to boats. What are some things I can do to further diagnose the issue? I'm leaning towards a busted hammer-blow coupler (based on other threads) but am clueless on what to do here. Help!!! Much apprecieated!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

so the motor is locked (not turning)?
or spinning freely (whirrrr) ?

 

[boobie]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Take the quad ring off of it to disconnect the outdrive from the tilt and then try it. I think there's only 3 or 4 bolts which require a 9/16 " socket. And yes, the hammer blow coupling could be broken and jamed up.

 

[southkogs]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

How's the lube in your clutch pack?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

You access the hammer blow coupling from the tilt motor end. Here is a picture of one. There are two halves to it, each with a separate key in the center and a spring that holds the two halves together.

Also, with the quadrant gear removed, the outdrive should swing freely. Do you ever lube the trunions?

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Aside from the coupler, there are a couple of pins on the worm gear shaft that can shear off and jam things up. There's a pic of one in a fairly recent thread if you do a quick search for tilt systems in this forum. Either way you have the joy of pulling the motor again. :d I would pull the clutch pack as well and go over the whole system. I did that with mine when I pulled my motor to rebuild it. I pulled the worm gear, separated the clutch pack, the works. For the past 6-7 years it's worked without a hitch.

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

First of all, wow, thanks for all the great info so quickly. Great photos and hints. Here's a little more info before I get back under the motor.

The motor is locked. It doesn't spin freely. The clutch pack is pretty milky but no straight up water dripping. The curious thing is that I can tilt the outdrive up and down with some effort by hand. I see the clutch gear spinning. Does that mean the hammer blow coupling should spin? Could I have someone tilt it while I look for motion? Also, do I simply just pull the hammer blow coupling out with my fingers? It's quite a reach back there and I can't see what I'm doing. I've gotten pretty good at taking that motor out after doing it twice, so that's not a problem. Also, does the clutch pack come out in one piece? I've never done something like that before, can a novice pull that out and repair it or at least clean it?
Would it be a good idea to pull the clutch pack and try the tilt motor first, to see if it spins up to that point?

Shear pins in the worm gear sound plausible too.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

try greasing the trunnion bearings at the pivot ears of the drive. They are to be greased twice per season.

clutch does come out in one chunk. You just remove the cover, then the spur gear off the drive side (snap ring) and it slides out for clean-up.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

When you tilt the drive by hand you are probably slipping the clutch pack and not turning the worm gear. Yes, you just use your fingers or a pair of needle nose pliers to pull it out. It looks the same both sides, the worm gear shaft has a notch just like the end of the motor shaft that it fits into.

The clutch pack should come out in one piece, although there is a large snap ring that holds it together that some people have had come out of it's groove which allows the pack to be disassembled. There are 'dished' washers called bellville springs that hold tension on the pack and control how much force it takes to slip. These need to be compressed to service the pack and remove/install the snap ring. It helps to have an arbor press to disassemble/re-assemble the pack, but I did mine with a bench vise and a couple of pieces of pipe.

Check out my thread here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=501126&highlight=info+stringer
There's a diagram of the intermediate housing that shows all the parts of the worm gear/clutch assy.

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

You access the hammer blow coupling from the tilt motor end. Here is a picture of one. There are two halves to it, each with a separate key in the center and a spring that holds the two halves together.

Do you know how I tell if the coupler is bad? Will it be in shambles or will it simply not spin. I'm gonna give it a go as soon as I can. Thanks again.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

The coupling is in 3 pieces. Two brass (bronze?) halves linked by a spring in between. If it's in more pieces than that, it's bad. Check the 'ears' on the two coupling halves and see if they have been sheared off. Good luck!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

You access the hammer blow coupling from the tilt motor end. Here is a picture of one. There are two halves to it, each with a separate key in the center and a spring that holds the two halves together.

Do you know how I tell if the coupler is bad? Will it be in shambles or will it simply not spin. I'm gonna give it a go as soon as I can. Thanks again.

The picture and explanation therein is pretty self explanatory. It should look exactly like my picture with a key way on both halves.

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Hey guys, I got the hammer blow coupling out, now that it's below 100 degrees outside. It looks okay. The spring is there and the keys are inside (though on one side the keys are a little nicked up). I took the clutch pack cover off and sprayed it down with brake cleaner pretty well. I tried to turn the worm gear with a screwdriver with no luck. Should I take the worm gear out next? Do I simply take off the three bolts on the back?

It seems like it's jammed up in the worm gear area. Do I need to take the clutch out to get the worm gear out? Is there anything I need to know when I pull it out?

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Uhh, I took off the three bolts and there is a metal plug back there. Do I need to fish out all the worm gear assembly stuff from inside the boat? @Howard Sterndrive, I saw another thread that mentioned some shear pins on a metal rod that connects the coupling to the actual worm gear. I don't see how to get that stuff out. Also, when I put the hammer blow coupling back in (assuming we figure out the problem) can I put it back in either way? Does that key look like it needs to be replaced first? ...but I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I can't wait to get back out on the water.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Looking at the key in your hammer blow coupler (don't know which side is showing) something is locked up and causing that distortion in the key. Something is trying hard to turn but cannot. You might take the key out and turn it around and see what it looks like. It/they can probably be re-used.. It appears that you have still not removed the tilt quadrant to see how free the outdrive swings.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

@Howard Sterndrive, I saw another thread that mentioned some shear pins on a metal rod that connects the coupling to the actual worm gear. I don't see how to get that stuff out.

remove the 3 screws and the triangular cover at the rear of the clutch housing to expose the round disc. Hit the brass gear like this and it will fire the round disc out the back (there is only an oring holding it once the plate is off)

then everything slides out the back

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Okay, I see how it must work. Thanks for the info. I'll give an update with some pics with what I find in there. The marred key in the coupling was facing the worm gear so I suspect that's where the problem is.
Also, are the trunnion zerks under those rubber flaps? I'll take off the tilt quadrant gear today, too, to make sure it swings freely. And while I have the clutch out, how should I go about tightening that hex bolt in there? I've always been able to pull the drive up and push it down (will eventually go down when trailered if not supported) with some force. It hasn't been a bother so I don't know if I should mess with it, it just doesn't seem quite right and since I'm already in there... Give it a quarter turn? Thanks again, this info has been a lifesaver.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Yes, the zerks are under the rubber bumper pads. When you go to remove the quandrant bolts they can be tough to get out. If I remember correctly a box end wrench is your best bet. I would have a good penetrant ready and a propane torch, as well. Do not force the bolts lest you snap one. Just try loosing the bolts and get some penetrating oil in there. The thread cavities can build up a lot of corrosion gunk and if you try to power the bolt out through it, you can damage the threads or snap the bolt. Keep rocking the bolt back and forth. If they seem extra tough apply propane heat short of burning the paint, rock them some more, more penetrant, etc, etc. Just take it easy and be patient.

When reinstalling the quadrant, chase and flush the threaded holes, then apply Marine Grease to the bolts before running them back in.

Oh, and btw, when reinstalling the cover, it wants to be double gasketed.

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Aside from the coupler, there are a couple of pins on the worm gear shaft that can shear off and jam things up. There's a pic of one in a fairly recent thread if you do a quick search for tilt systems in this forum. Either way you have the joy of pulling the motor again. :d I would pull the clutch pack as well and go over the whole system. I did that with mine when I pulled my motor to rebuild it. I pulled the worm gear, separated the clutch pack, the works. For the past 6-7 years it's worked without a hitch.

I got the worm gear out and there is only one shear pin but two holes. I take it that's where my issue is? Are there actually supposed to be two shear pins? I don't see a bunch of metal chunks everywhere, but there is a bunch of grit and there might be metal chunks in there. Here is a pic. what do you all think?:

 

[natispotatis]

Re: OMC Stringer Sterndrive Tilt Headache--Please Help!!

Well, I found the little culprit. Looks like one of those shear pins broke off and lodged itself in the larger worm wheel ring gear, inside the clutch. Click on the pics for a larger image. Got a new worm shaft ordered for $20 and we'll see how she goes back together

I only wish I would have done all this before listening to a "qualified" OMC mechanic who was "almost 100% sure it was just the motor." I guess I have a backup for when that fails--I've become an expert at taking that off and putting it back in. I guess I'll be around now to help the next guy who runs into this issue. Thanks again, everyone, for taking the time to help me out. Couldn't a done it without ya



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