won't go in drive

R

riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

The prop is on. I was able to pull it into reverse and it spun like it did with the gear shifter. I could not push it into foward.

Additionally, I checked the lower unit oil and opened the top oil vent with the outdrive in the fully down position. When I did this, compressed air splattered out a bunch of oil. And, after this minor explosion, oil just kept running out. Is it over full?

Thanks.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: won't go in drive

What color is the drive oil? Is it milky?
Did you check the magnet on the drain plug?
Overfilling will not cause it to not go into forward.
But lets look at the drain plug and oil color before moving on.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

It was black coming out the top oil vent, but a little milky at the bottom.

Is the magnet you are referring to the oil fill/drain screw at the bottom of the lower unit?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: won't go in drive

Is the magnet you are referring to the oil fill/drain screw at the bottom of the lower unit?
Click to expand...
Yes, it looks like a 1/8" diameter by about 1/2" long rod on the end of the drain plug.
Water in the gear lube makes it milky. Water entering the drive causes the oil level to raise. Black indicates burned.
Any work been done on this drive lately?

It's time to pull the drive, and see what is in the bellows.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

Probably no work has been done on it lately. I don't think I have time to pull the drive today as I am heading out shortly.

What exactly would I be looking for in the bellows?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: won't go in drive

Water, oil, both, nothing ???????
 
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nailem

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Messages
185
Re: won't go in drive

riley4, i feel for ya. this is my first boat also and i have had some problems with it not shifting into neutral from either gear. i think i got it figured out but will have to wait to get in the water. good luck and i know how your feeling. i do think we are at the right place. these guys are great.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

I appreciate everyones advice and support. I'll get after it again tomorrow and we'll figure it out.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

I am in the process of trying to remove the stern drive and have pulled it straight back about 4 inches, enough to clear the bolts but it seems to be stuck up in the drive shaft at this point and cant pull it back any further. Any recommendations, please? There also looks to be a shift cable or component in there, does that need to be disconnected?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: won't go in drive

After pulling it off 3' to 4", it shouldn't be hanging up on anything.

hullofalottatrouble said:
did you shift into forward? Has to be in forward to pull the drive
Click to expand...
Even if he didn't have it in forward, after 4" of pulling it back, it's well out of the shoe at that point.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

The gear lever is all the way forward. I'll try again pulling it back.
 
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hullofalottatrouble

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Re: won't go in drive

true.. but 4 inches sitting at the keyboard might not really be 4in when ya get back to the drive.. so given that nothing else should be hanging it up at all.. i thought i would just throw that out there..
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

I got it off and I think found the problem. The drive shaft splines are almost completely worn off with lots of metal filings all around.

Now what?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: won't go in drive

That may be A problem, but it doesn't explain why it goes into reverse and not forward.
You will be needing a new coupler, coupler yoke, and rear engine mounts before you go boating. That shaft is spinning any time the engine is running. Not just when shifted.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

It will go into both reverse and forward, its just when I tried doing it manually with the shift cable like you recommended there was too much slack in the cable to create leverage enough to push it forward. I'm quite sure it would have went forward if there wasn't slack in the line.

Since the splines are worn on the shaft, do I have to worry about what the other side of that connection looks like where the shaft fits into?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: won't go in drive

Since the splines are worn on the shaft, do I have to worry about what the other side of that connection looks like where the shaft fits into?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the coupler I mentioned. Look thru the gimbal bearing with a flash light, the splines and gaps between the splines on the coupler should be the same size. My bet is the splines come up to a point.
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

Does the engine need to be pulled to change the coupler?
 
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riley4

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Re: won't go in drive

Thanks for all of your help, Don. It'll be off to the repair shop tomorrow to pull the engine.
 
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