'56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

[greatoutdoors]

I got this motor for free and got her running. I took it out for a test run today and I got about 200 yards and it seemed to come out of gear. The lever was still in the forward position, but the prop wouldn't spin. I tried reverse, it worked a little better than forward, but kind of popped in and out as I moved the lever from N to reverse. I paddled back to shore (which was great with a 3 ft paddle, a 1200lb boat and a sore back) and took her home. I put it in F and tried to turn the prop and it was very hard to turn--it was in gear. Same for reverse. I took a look at the prop--I don't know how I didn't lose it because the cotter pin wasn't bent over to prevent it from being pulled out. I took it off and examined it and put it back on. It moves back and forth on the shaft about 1/4" to 3/8". Is that normal? What's happening here? I have a '55 Johnson 25hp I could use for parts, but I'd rather restore that one too.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

If it was jumping out of gear, it would jump out of and back into gear. This would result in a feeling that the engine was hitting a underwater object, and you don't mention that.

I suspect that the propeller has slipped on its hub. The prop is actually a three piece unit..... a bronze hub that slides over the propshaft, a section of vaulcanized rubber, then the propeller. The vaulcanized rubber between the hub and the prop is similar to a motor mount assembly.

When the vaulcanized rubber fails, that allows the propeller to slip around on it.

Try another propeller. If that cures the problem, have your propeller rehubbed at any propeller repair shop.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

BZZZZZZZZZZZZ sorry Joe. This isn't a Merc, this is a 1956 Evinrude 30. No three piece nothin.... What you got wrong here, is the shift linkage just needs adjustment. These old Johny/Rudes are notorious for jumping out of gear and there are two major causes.

#1. Shift linkage by shift lever is out of adjustment

#2. Shift rod bolt on bellcrank is loose.

As far as adjusting the shift linkage goes, Loosen the two bolts that hold the shift lever and put the lever in the neutral position. your prop should spin freely. If not, then you should adjust the linkage on the motor to allow it to do so. once you rotate the linkage to allow the prop to spin free, then tighten it down. After you tighten the bolts down, then try the lever in all three positions and see if it engages in each gear properly.

If your shift rod is loose at the bellcrank, then you should be able to tell this by removing the obround plate at the lower end of the motor leg and check and see how much up and down end play there is, with the shift lever in neautral.

If you have any questions after these tests, let me know.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Merc? I'm well aware the engine isn't a Merc. I don't get involved with Mercury problems..... not my cup of tea. Did you read the first short paragraph of my above reply? Take a good look at one of those props when you get the chance.

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

BZZZZZZZZZZZZ sorry Joe. This isn't a Merc, this is a 1956 Evinrude 30. No three piece nothin.... What you got wrong here, is the shift linkage just needs adjustment. These old Johny/Rudes are notorious for jumping out of gear and there are two major causes.

#1. Shift linkage by shift lever is out of adjustment

#2. Shift rod bolt on bellcrank is loose.

As far as adjusting the shift linkage goes, Loosen the two bolts that hold the shift lever and put the lever in the neutral position. your prop should spin freely. If not, then you should adjust the linkage on the motor to allow it to do so. once you rotate the linkage to allow the prop to spin free, then tighten it down. After you tighten the bolts down, then try the lever in all three positions and see if it engages in each gear properly.

If your shift rod is loose at the bellcrank, then you should be able to tell this by removing the obround plate at the lower end of the motor leg and check and see how much up and down end play there is, with the shift lever in neautral.

If you have any questions after these tests, let me know.

This may give you a better idea as to what is wrong and then you could tell me how to fix it. When the motor is in either gear (out of the water) it feels as if it is in gear (hard to turn prop). When it is in neutral it will spin freely in the direction as to propel the boat forward, but will not spin in the opposite direction. Thank you very much.

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Merc? I'm well aware the engine isn't a Merc. I don't get involved with Mercury problems..... not my cup of tea. Did you read the first short paragraph of my above reply? Take a good look at one of those props when you get the chance.

I took the prop off and there is no rubber piece. It is just the propeller over the shaft and the prop nut. What stops the prop from spinning on the shaft seems to be a small metal rod that goes through the center of the prop and the prop shaft, then the prop nut goes over that so it cant slide out. Then a cotter pin through the prop nut.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

So, it looks like you have a sheared prop pin. No biggie......less than 5 bucks and you're good to go. Sorry Joe....didn't mean to be an asssssss.....

 

[F_R]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

So, it looks like you have a sheared prop pin. No biggie......less than 5 bucks and you're good to go. Sorry Joe....didn't mean to be an asssssss.....

1946, he just said the drive pin was in there and didn't mention it being sheared, which would be obvious.

greatoutdoors, you are not listening. Joe explained that there is the bronze hub that slips over the shaft, and the aluminum propeller itself. In between those two parts is a rubber hub. You can't see it but believe us, it is in there.

Now, to prove whether or not it is slipping, take something and mark a line on the prop nut, and another line on the propeller, aligned with the first one. Now run the motor till the suspected slippage occurs, then check your marks. If they are no longer aligned, the hub slipped. But if they are still aligned, repeat the test, there is a slight chance it stopped slipping in the same position. If it passes the test twice, it probably is ok.

Your comments about the prop spinning only one direction by hand in neutral suggests that the shift linkage is worn out or at least mis-adjusted. It should not "catch" at all in neutral.

If it is a linkage or clutch dog problem, it will grind, chatter, or bang when it slips. If it just slips smoothly and quietly it is the prop hub.

Like somebody said, they are notorious for it and we have seen it a bazillion times.

EDIT: You cannot slip a bad prop hub by hand unless it is so bad that it is ready to fall apart. The hub has to withstand the power of 30 horses. I don't know about anybody else, but I'm nowhere near strong enough to equal even one horse.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Greatoutdoors..... Look closer. The propeller is aluminum BUT the metal that slides over the propshaft is bronze. Guess what's between those two metals?

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Greatoutdoors..... Look closer. The propeller is aluminum BUT the metal that slides over the propshaft is bronze. Guess what's between those two metals?

A gold nugget? Just kidding. I misunderstood you. I thought you meant there were three pieces that went over the prop shaft. You meant the prop itself is a 3 piece unit. Sorry, it was late last night. I'm kinda suspecting I have a little of both going on here, prop slippage and the shift lever being out of whack. I will take the prop off the johnny 25 and go out and see what happens and let you all know. Thanks to everyone.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Also, you state in a recent post "When it is in neutral it will spin freely in the direction as to propel the boat forward, but will not spin in the opposite direction."

That's somewhat confusing.... I could understand that effect if the engine were in forward gear. However, having the propeller grab in one turning direction but not the other would indicate that the clutch shifter dog lobes and/or the gear lobes are worn bad OR the shift linkage is way out of adjustment.

 

[F_R]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Also, you state in a recent post "When it is in neutral it will spin freely in the direction as to propel the boat forward, but will not spin in the opposite direction."

That's somewhat confusing.... I could understand that effect if the engine were in forward gear. However, having the propeller grab in one turning direction but not the other would indicate that the clutch shifter dog lobes and/or the gear lobes are worn bad OR the shift linkage is way out of adjustment.

I vote for the linkage is out of adjustment or worn out. The dog is just barely clearing the gear (or not) when it is supposed to be centered in neutral. Not only that, it probably has the corners worn off, allowing a ratchet effect in one direction.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Yep, that would be my vote too. I'm willin to bet that if you puul her down, you might find some "lack of oil" damage in there, especially if you say that things aren't spinning the way they should be. I've pulled apart some nice disasters from that.

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Well guys, I pulled the prop off again and took a better look. The prop pin was a little short so it may have not been catching and the bronze of the prop looked like a bad car rotor. Thats a shame because that prop blades don't even have a nick in them. I took the prop and pin off the 25 Johnson (which is in better than average condition) and adjusted the lever a little and the prop seems to be spinning correctly. When its in gear it will spin about a half rotation in either direction and stop, and it's spinning in both directions nicely in N now. But the real test will be on the water when I get back from vacation around the 1st of the month. Does it sound like I've done everything properly for now?

 

[lindy46]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

If the prop is in good shape, you can get it re-hubbed for about $35 - then you will have a like-new prop.

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

So I got a chance to take it out this morning with the new prop on (I know this one is good) and after I adjusted the shifter. Its doing the same thing. It will go in gear and then come out. There is no clacking or banging the motor just revs when it comes out. Sometimes it won't even engage in gear. I can go a few yards then it comes out whether I'm just idling or if I gas it. I get about five seconds. Doesn't seem to matter how much power I apply. What should I try now? Is there something I can try to adjust in the lower unit? Thanks guys.

 

[Daviet]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Sounds like it might be time to tear down lower unit.

 

[greatoutdoors]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

What do I do after I take it down? I'm new to the lower end, I've only done carb rebuilds, coils, points, condensers and the like.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Open it up and look for worn parts. Or just do a straight swap with the '55 25hp LU and you'll be good to go. I believe they're the same. I have both those engines also but have not tried to swap em but they both have the same 35.7cu in powerhead.

 

[lindy46]

Re: '56 Evinrude 30hp coming out of gear

Open it up and look for worn parts. Or just do a straight swap with the '55 25hp LU and you'll be good to go. I believe they're the same. I have both those engines also but have not tried to swap em but they both have the same 35.7cu in powerhead.

Yes, direct swap - I just put a '55 25hp on a '56 30hp - no problem.