OMC Stern Drives 1964-1986 Repair Manual
574 pages, .pdf format
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OMC Stern Drives 1986-1998 Repair Manual
616 pages, .pdf format
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OMC Stringer Stern Drive Tilt System
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OMC 400 Stern Drive Parts Catalog
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OMC Stern Drive Parts Catalog
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OMC stern drives were produced by the Outboard Marine Corporation from 1962 until the end of 1992.
The OMC Stringer was produced from 1962-1977 when they discontinued production and manufacturing of the – Electric shift model.
In 1978 the Stringer model upper gear housing design was coupled with a completely redesigned lower unit. This new design would call for a sliding clutch dog in the lower unit which would engage and lock into forward or reverse gears. This clutch was manually engaged by the use of a shift cable which contained 2 inner cores for forward and reverse. These new models were called the 400 series (4 cylinder engines) and the 800 series (6 cylinder, V6 and 8 cylinder V8 motors). Early models manufactured between 1978 and 1981 used a hydraulic oil pump in the lower unit to assist the mechanical shift cable with engaging the clutch dog into gear.
In 1982, engineers redesigned the lower unit to shift with a mechanical shift cable and the hydraulic shift assist pump was removed. These new units were still called the 400 and 800 series models – but were widely referred to as the ‘mechanical shift’ models. This version of the 400 and 800 series were produced up to the year 1985.
OMC completely re-engineered their outdrives in 1986 and introduced the Cobra model. These new models were available in a variety of motor options; including a 2.3L Ford 4 cylinder (1986-1987), 3.0L Chevy, 5.0L – 5.7L – 5.8L Ford and Chevy small block V8’s and the monster 7.5L 460 Ford big block V8 (1987-1988 King Cobra). The new models now used the modern u-joint style drive system.
The early Cobra models had some problems keeping the clutch engaged into the gear in certain instances due to a 3 degree undercut on the top of the clutch dog tooth. The clutch was updated to a 5 degree undercut, and a shift interrupter switch was added along with an updated design for the shift detent.
In 1993 OMC and Volvo entered into a joint venture and began producing a hybrid stern drive. This new design used the OMC Cobra transom plate assembly but was all Volvo engineering beyond that point. This included the Volvo cone clutch outdrive design and heavier duty shifting components which eliminated the clutch dog system. This new system was sold as the Cobra by OMC, and the SX by Volvo. With the introduction of this OMC Cobra/Volvo SX sterndrive hybrid model, also referred to as the ‘cone clutch’, the last of the OMC designed sterndrives finished production in 1992.
OMC Outboard Motor Corporation officially went out of business in 1998 when Volvo purchased the rights and their manufacturing facility in Lexington. OEM parts are still being manufactured through BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products). Many OEM parts are still interchangeable with Johnson and Evinrude outboard models; and some outboards still use the identical lower housing as the Cobra model.
