Billgran wrote:

: wrote in message
: oups.com...
:
: OK, let's try another.
:
: What part in Mercruiser outdrives required them to pay royalties to
: Volvo Penta?
:
: (Getting my ideas from a great book called "The Iron Fist".)
:
: b.

: It's been a long time since I read that book, but my recollection is from
: earlier days with OMC. I believe the dual u-joint drive shaft was the item
: that required the royalties. OMC stern-drives had to use the "ball-gear"
: setup to get around that patent. Back in the '30s, OMC had a stern drive
: setup used to power barges.

That's it!.

There was a guy (Steve Wynn?) who invented the sterndrive whilst working
for Karl and Karl didn't think it was a good idea. He left for Volvo Penta
and that really irked Kiekiefer. OMC used the ball gear to get around it
until the patent expired on it. Then they went to the Cobra drive.

Additionally, Kiekiefer didn't think there was a "need" for a neutral in
an outboard. Hence, those throttles/shifts with the starter button on
the end of the handle.

Karl was quite a tyrant. Ironically, he had an *electrical* engineering
degree and designed outboard motors.

b.