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Need help with an 1985 stringer 800

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mtnclimber

New member
Hey guys, I'm a nubie on here and am having troubles with my boat. Here's the deal...I just picked up this really clean crestliner from a guy who says that when running at WOT on the lake the boat died...no loud noises..just stopped. He said the motor was tight, but i'm skeptical. When I put a breaker bar on the crank, i can run the motor a solid 3/4 inch in either direction. cylinders look good as well, and with plugs out i can tell its not tight....so this leads me to think its something in the drive...What do you guys think? The drive is ready to pull, except I can't figure out how to get the shift cable off. Any help on this all would be great. Sorry about the long post. Thanks Guys!!
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

No need to remove the cable !

Boat is on a trailer say: With the drive fully down, place a piece of flat wood under the skeg. Crank the trailer bow up till it touch's the wood.

Remove the 2 rubber bumpers, remove the 2 trunion covers. Then with someone else cranking the bow up the drive will come off, just swivel the drive a few inch' to port. Tie up the drive to the stern say to a swim platform.

Now the ball gear driveshaft can turn freely with out the drive ball gear engaging the other ball gear.

Mark the bumpers to make sure they go on the same side exactly the way they came off. Same with the trunion cover. Understand this they must go on the same way they came off exactly.
 
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Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

Sounds good...that should tell me if the lower is bad, but if the engine still doesn't turn freely,is there any way to test the intermediate without pulling the motor?
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

All that can stop the motor from turning in the intermediate is the shaft and ball gear. With the drive out of the way pull the ball gear and shaft out.

There is 4 screws that hold the bearing carrier, remove them. Then with a flat piece of wood up against the transom and a small crow bar pry the ball gear out the whole shaft will come with it. The bearing is the only thing that can be frozen.

There should be a water deflector put it aside and make sure you reinstall it when you reinstall the shaft. Use spline grease.
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

Sorry for all the dumb questions, but do the three bolts that hold the tilt gear on have to come off? I don't see how the drive will come off with them on. The help is much appreciated!
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

scratch that..got it off..all except for the shift cable...the drive is what is bad..if someone could please tell me the best way to get the cable off i"ll leave you guys be. Thanks again for all the help!
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

after pulling the drive and tieing it to the side, the motor now turns free..i even started it just for a split second..so i'm 99% sure it isn't the intermediate or the motor...where should I go from here? I'd like to pull the shift cable, take the drive totally off, and pull the lower unit off to see if I can tell exactly where my problem is.
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

you still don't have to remove the cable. Got a manual ? Heres one free just d/l it'

omc sterndrive - 4shared.com download free

You need before 86'

Ok you will need a very long needle nose. For remopving the lower shift cabl from the lower unit latter if need be.

Ok put the drive back on with just the trunion caps. Leave the bumpers off, raise the drive half way. Remove the very top bolts i think 3/8ths, the whole lower with the exhaust will drop , have a cooler or table ready and lay it on the table or cooler.

Now raise the drive or crank the bow all the way down. And remove the 4 bolts facing you in the upper, The whole water pump and water pump shafts and bearing carrier will come out in one piece.

Now you see all the gears. Post back what you see before i talk you thru how to disconnect the cable from the lower unit.

D/l the manual get familiar with the terms and words used cause i don't want to explain for example what a cotter pin is.

Do not attempt to pull on the cable everything i tell you to do i have done many times, and i don't want you to destroy the cable that is nla and if you find one 300-500 dollars understand !
 
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Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

Thanks a ton! I'm familiar with the terms so no worries there..I've worked on cars and sleds all my life..and am usually the go-to guy for that type of stuff...I've just never done a thing with IO's. Thanks again for all the help as this stuff is new to me.
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

so....i pulled the drive like you said. The lower unit works fine, the problem is definately in the upper. I pulled the water pump, and the case of the pump is actually shot...the case was bent into the impeller. So it looks like I'm in the market for a new upper gear set. Know of anywhere to find one with the correct gear ratio for a 3.8 litre? If not, how much different are the V8's geared? Do I dare put one on off of a 305 or 350? Thanks again.
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

mtnclimber said:
the case was bent into the impeller.
Click to expand...
that's from winter storage with the drive tilted up and prop uncovered - ice did that
mtnclimber said:
So it looks like I'm in the market for a new upper gear set.
Know of anywhere to find one with the correct gear ratio for a 3.8 litre?
Click to expand...


I have a new gearset here. also have a used 3.8 upper - pm me if interested in either
mtnclimber said:
If not, how much different are the V8's geared? Do I dare put one on off of a 305 or 350? Thanks again.
Click to expand...

3.8 use 21:20 upper gears
V8's use 21:16 or 21:17

that's too much difference to overcome with prop changes

something used a 21:19... not sure which model

Seloc manual has all the ratios/tooth counts in on page A-55 I think
 
Re: Need help with an 85 stringer 800

I would be very interested in your 3.8 upper drive..I'll PM u asap as I could have used it yesterday.ha.
 
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