OMC Lower Unit issue..'98 200 Ocean Pro 200

[C.C.Hiliner]

Hello Guys:
I've been a member of your site for awhile, Mostly because I enjoy reading your stories, and listening to your adviceon what you high performance guys have to say about marine hardware.

So this is my first post.

I have a 200 Evinrude Oceanpro on a 22' Ray Hunt 24 degree constant dead rise Deep V. (Its a Hiliner 222)

Recently, My lower unit has been acting up and I think my forwatd gear and clutch dog are shot. It runs fine 3100 rpm and below, but starts to "clunk" above that, like the LU is trying to lock up.

I was going to look at an SEI Replacement, but then I noticed a post from a guy named "Gary" that rebuilds OMC lowers for around the price of an SEI. I don't know who this man is, other than his handle is "Instagator", Do you know who this man is?, and where I can reach him?

I would much rather keep my own OEM LU , rather than go with aftermarket,

I've heard you guys on this very site not give too much credence to SEI LU's. I know you're harder on this stuff being in the high performance realm, but I would like to take my chances with a rebuilt OMC, rather than some cheap after market.

Your thoughts? :confused:

Thanks!

[flabum1017]

We have sold a lot of SEI lowers and have had almost no problems with them, the high performance guys are leary of them only because they are aftermarket. Here's Instigators profile page: https://www.screamandfly.com/member.php?127-Instigator

[Forkin' Crazy]

I know him well, and he is as straight up a guy as you'd ever want to meet! Two Stroke Only is the name of Gary's business. I can PM you his phone #.

I would stick with OMC/BRP if I could. Go ahead and have him pin the carrier while he is at it.

[mrichartz]

I run the sei on both my motors with LWPs and run them high.. surfacing and 7500 rpm
Have had them for 10 and 14 years and never had a problem with them.
But get it checked might not be that bad..

[C.C.Hiliner]

Thank you Paul! That would be great!

[Instigator]

Sounds like you have lost teeth on the pinion gear/drive shaft.

I just installed a new SEI on a customers boat and am way impressed w/what I’ve seen and heard.
Close to price of rebuilt and it is 100% new parts and comes w/a 2 yr warrantee.
I only give 90 days.

PS, way cool boat.

[C.C.Hiliner]

Well Thank You, Gary.
I've been scouring these here innerwebs to get all I can about SEI Lowers. (Hull Truth, Bass boat sites, etc)
I did seem to notice a pattern with the guys who love them and those who think they come straight from Hell.

It seems the Yammer guys seem to have the most bad luck with them, every now and then I see a comment who runs one on a motor like mine (Carburated 3.0 OMC V6 looper 200) and they always say they run great and they are very happy.

I guess the only real terrifying thing I have heard is the prop shafts breaking off (!), and losing a 400-600 dollar prop., But again, it only seems the Yammers (and a couple of Merc owners) had this problem. I have a buddy with a Whaler 305 Conquest with 225 Optis, who shod both engines with SEI lowers, He is not easy on his equipment and they seem to be doing just fine.

My local Evinrude dealer gave me a price of $1050 to replace the forward gear and clutch dog and reseal the case, but a new pinion and drive shaft looks like it would be closer to 2k, so the SEi is looking better and better.

Hey, a quick one question, SEI's are black, I would want to paint mine white, How would you guys approach that? (What kind of sandpaper grit should I use?, No primer I would think, because it already has a finish, I'd rattle can the white paint on there, if it will stay)

[mrichartz]

Prep prep prep..I've used just a spray can and lasted a long time actually still on there years but it's making sure you prep it good etc
423185

[flabum1017]

A word on rebuilding.... the forward and pinion have to be changed as a set. The most important part of the job is proper shift cable adjustment once it's back on.