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HELP One thing leads to another OMC

mzak1970

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"I have a 1987 5.0L GM mated t

"I have a 1987 5.0L GM mated to a Cobra sterndrive. I just had the lower unit re-built. New propshaft, gears, re-sealed. Also just finished re-gasketing the top half of motor(both head gaskets were blown). Bottom half of the engine was not removed from the boat. Now the engine runs like a champ(good news). Here is the problem. When I attempt to start the boat with the drive down, the starter turns slower than normal and torques to the side. It will whine and turn slowly, but usually not fast enough to start the motor. Then I raise the drive and let the starter cool down she starts right up. seems like a bind somewhere in the drive coupling or something. Any help or idea would be appreciated.
A side note I ran the boat on several occasions in the driveway with muffs, prior to putting it in the water and never experienced this problem."
 
Hello this sounds very familia

Hello this sounds very familiar to me. I do belive your drive shaft bearings/u-joint and possibly your gimbal bearing are frozen or going out. This was the case with mine however mine would no longer kick the flywheel over. Look around this site I do remeber reading the same scenario. Good Luck.
 
"How far up do you raise the d

"How far up do you raise the drive? In addition to what David says the engine alignment could also be out, was it checked before you put the drive back on?"
 
"I had the drive work done at

"I had the drive work done at a marina. I would assume they check the alignment when they re-install the drive. However they were under some time pressure. The first time I got the boat back, I took it out for a test run and found water in the drive. Took it back, they had 3 days to pull the drive again and re seal it before my vacation. I suppose they could have cut some corners. I have a 1 year warranty on the drive, Think it is time to call them back."
 
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