Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

[crawl234]

On my 5.0 1987 OMC Cobra lower gearcase housing <br />there is a screw on the bottom and on the top,<br />on the right side it is for the gear oil fill and level. I messed up and took out the one on the left side, on the top, thinking I was checking the oil and the part with threads fell into the gearcase what is the screw for and how can I get it back in. It looks exactly like the oil level screw, but I is not for sure.

 

[dick]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

That hole goes into a water passage and you now have to take the drive off and get get that piece out to reinstall the plug.when you take off the drive if you tilt it back towards the boat it should fall out.<br />Also just so you know the web police will soon move this topic to the I/O or inboard forum, so look for it there.

 

[moderator1]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

Officer iboats here. Moving to I/O's.

 

[Lark40]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

Don't feel alone. I'll be pulling my drive to retreive that retainer pretty soon.<br /><br />Think every Cobra owner has made the same mistake.

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

My brother just did this on his 91 omc Cobra.<br />I do not have details but here is what he did to fix it...<br />1. used a graber tool or magnetic tool to retreive the metal piece that fell down inside.<br /><br />2. Go down to your local hardware store and get a pipe tap that is the correct size to thread the hole and get a plug that is the corresponding size to go in it.<br /><br />3. Thread the hole, add a little teflon tape or liquid and install the plug.<br /><br />Its been working great ever since...<br /><br />I am wondering what you all think about his solution? Any draw backs?

 

[Lark40]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

I assume that he had to pull the drive off to get the retainer out. As it is stainless steel, I don't think he could get with a magnet. In any case, It wouldn't fit through the hole.<br /><br />Once you have the retainer, and can access the inside to hold it, why not just re-insert the screw with some sealant?<br /><br />In my case, I intend to paint that screw red (do not mess with!)

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

Nope, did not need to pull the out drive. He was able to get it out through the hole. Its a rectangle piece that is smaller than the hole when turned on end.<br />The seal is produced by the plastic insert that goes between the screw & the housing.<br /><br />According to the local OMC mech, even after the drive is off you will still need some type of reach tool to hold the piece in place and it is not easy.<br /><br />Just food for thought or fuel for the fire...

 

[crawl234]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

Thanks for the Ideas I'll try them all, easiest first. The screw does have a rubber O-ring for a seal. And the pice with the threads fell in to the houseing. I will mark the screw and red will work fine.

 

[crawl234]

Re: Screw on lower Gearcase houseing

Yea, I got the screw back in All of the Ideas worked . If I had not knocked the spacer all the way in I could have fished it out sideways. The screw was Stainless so It did not work with the magnet. I had to pull the drive tilt it back and it fell right out. To get it back in I taped it to an old pice of wire and fished it back in till I could reinsert the screw. And I will never take that screw out again, Wonder why it is there? <br /> Thanks all