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OMC 1983 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

F

flockshot

New member
I replaced the water pump, and some upper gearcase seals, on my OMC Stringer 400 1983 model. The case vaccume tested great and held vaccume for 3 hours without the guage moving. One trip around the lake and when I removed the 'dip stick' from the upper drive a foamy mixture of water and oil pushed the dipstick out of the hole.

I did something bad wrong and am about to start from scracth and do it all over again.

Before I start I have three concerns (to start with)

1) Above the water pump there are 2 seals (981268) that go back to back, in the bearing housing. The old seals I removed were pressed in flush with the bearing housing. When I put the new ones in I made a tool and pressed them in till they hit the 'lip' deeper in the bearing housing. Which is correct?

2) I did not put permatex around the outer perimiter of the impeller housing. (I did do the bolt threads and heads, and both edges of the impeller cover plate) I will include the housing this time.

3) The large rubber 'O' ring that comes with the kit shows being installed between the swivel housing (910239) and the bearing housing (910240), around the outside perimiter of the impeller housing. Is this correct?

If anyone else has experienced similar results with this project I would appreciate hearing what solutions were found.

I hate it when this happens.:(
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

I went out and looked at the oil I drained out yesterday. The water is separating from the oil now. It is not just foamed up, but a nice thought none the less.

The waterpump kit did not have the seals I am refering to. When I tried to get the impeller housing out, the bearing retainer assembly came out. Therfore I ordered a upper unit seal kit to replace the internal o ring and seals that I felt I should not reuse.

Otherwise my kit contained the standard 'complete' parts we see on Ebay. Housing, impeller,plate, key, o rings and driveshaft seal.
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

Sometimes the upper just can't be sealed will alway's have water. Change it out the oil every third time on the water.
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

trucourse steering shaft a common leak point. another water entry cause is too much clearance between uppr and exhaust housing top cover.

upper should float about .020" up and down in the exh. housing.

try wiggling things and steering while the pressure/vacuum tester is on there.

and of course, the one seal that isn't being tested with the pressure tester is the plug gasket....
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

I will check the steering and ball gear shafts while vaccume is in place. I will also check the up/down of the upper in the exhaust housing.

I am using new plastic washers. I went to the hardware store and bought 15 of them to have on hand.

There is way too much water in this oil from one trip around the lake so that I could change it every 3 times out.

I will figure this out.
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

The dipstick how is the plastic washer on that. Try pressure testing it with oil in it.

12-15 psi if it holds for a hour.
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

You should have put permatex on the impeller housing.
Mine did the same thing once. I changed the oil. and it was fine. Mine is a 1985 Stringer 400
 
Re: OMC 400 Stringer Botched Water Pump Job

After walking away from the project for a couple days, I rechecked the case for pressure and vaccum. I held 15 psi perfectly, but vaccum is not holding.
I will disassemble, reseal and try again.
And yes, I will seal the impeller case this time.
Thanks for all the help so far. It's good to know that I am not in this Stringer thing alone.
 
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