Yamaha rip cord is stuck

[goshgo27]

Hi..I am hoping that someone can help me out here. I have a 1988 Yamaha 8hp outboard and I went to start her up today and the rip chord was stuck. It's not the spring thing because I unboalted the compent that holds the rip chord on the motor and it retracted fine but as soon as mount it back on the motor its jammed, the flywheel won't move. I tried switching the gears back and for and played witht he throttle. I used the motor a couple of weeks ago and it worked fine. OH, I did notice a little plastic nub that was preventing the cord from spinning. It's a little nub that pops out when in gear (I think). It was stuck but I was able to push it back in but the cord still doesn't pull out. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you much in advance,.

 

[shortcut]

Re: Yamaha rip cord is stuck

If you can't turn the flywheel by hand the motor is probably seized. Did you try turning it over without the spark plug ?

 

[goshgo27]

Re: Yamaha rip cord is stuck

Thanks for the response. I will try removing the spark plugs and then trying to turn the fly wheel. SHould it take a lot of force? Would I need to use a flat head or something to turn it? That will be too bad if it seized, it worked perfect a couple of weeks ago. i ran it in my driveway for a few minutes and then I changed the lower gear oil and that was it. One thing I don't know if I mentined was that when I have it in gear, I can't turn the prop at all. Could there be something other than a seized engine that would prevent it from turning, like a a gear out of place, etc?

I hope so! THanks again and I will try removing the plugs asap.

Rich

 

[goshgo27]

Re: Yamaha rip cord is stuck

Hi again,

so i tried removing the spark plugs and I still couldn't turn it. I then removed the lower gear oil which I just put in two weeks ago and I saw a lot of crap coming out. I am 90% sure it's metalic paint because I just painted the lower end (just before I used it last). Not sure how it got in there. I don't think it was metal shavings because I couldn't feel it. When I went to start it up a couple of weeks ago (day after painting), it did squeak a little which was weird. It squeaked when I pull the rip cord and I think for a second as it ran. It ran perfect for 5-10 minutes and then I put it away. Not knowing a thing about motors, I am thinking the paint some how jammed something. It still switches into gear very easily but once it's in gear, the won't budge (when I try to turn the prop). Am I totally screwed?

I tried taking off the lower unit but I have clue how to. I removed the 4 bolts and it moved maybe 1mm. I then put them back on and filled it back up with gear oil.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[sc_shane]

Re: Yamaha rip cord is stuck

This doesn't sound too good goshgo. If you take the plugs out and try to turn the flywheel by hand and you can't even move it, that's motor may be done.

If this were me (and keep in mind, I'm no mechanic) I'd take it to a trusted mechanic and see what they said at this point. If the motor is seized up, they should be able to tell you pretty easily and not charge you much at all - that is unless they break the motor down for full confirmation.

Best of luck to ya. Anyone else out there with an idea for goshgo?

 

[goshgo27]

Re: Yamaha rip cord is stuck

Hey Seaman

GREAT NEWS! I took apart all the stuff above the fly wheel so all there was left was a large nut in the middle. I forced it in motion with a large socket wrench (it wasn't easy). It started to move a little so I rigged up a jig to attach to my electric drill and made a starter. I got her going. I then put everything back together and it works great! Oh, I did the cranking with the sparkplugs out first and I also put a little mistry oil in the holes last night.

Thanks for all of your help!
Rich