Mariner 225 EFI lower unit issues

[Dhord333]

I was on the lake the other day running my 1995 procraft bass boat. It has the mariner 225 efi outboard. I had run the boat for about 15 minutes and stopped to talk to my buddy who was driving his boat. As I was taking off and about to plane out, the boat slipped out of forward gear. It wouldn't forward or reverse when I put it into gear. so I had someone tow me back into the dock.

However, when I got home, i started the boat and put it into forward and reverse and the propeller works just fine. I don't necessarily hear the lower unit going into gear like Im pretty sure I diid before, but the propeller is spinning in the correct direction when put into forward and reverse.

I emptied the lower unit oil and didnt find any chunks of metal. I also don't hear any grinding when putting the boat into gear. There were some fine metal shavings on the drain plug, but nothing out of the norm. I also pulled off the cowling and it seems the linkage cables are moving the unit into gear like they should.

I cant put the boat back in the water to test it out because I'm currently working on fiberglass repair on the bottom. Is this just a freak accident or should I be looking at other things to diagnose this?

 

[racerone]

Inspect the propeller.----The rubber hub may be slipping.-----Or the driveshaft broke.

 

[Faztbullet]

Early model 3L motors with stubby shaft lower units are bad about breaking driveshaft at pinion

 

[Dhord333]

Thanks for the responses guys. I will look into this. So just to be clear,...the propeller will still rotate even if the driveshaft is broken?

 

[Texasmark]

Early model 3L motors with stubby shaft lower units are bad about breaking driveshaft at pinion

That solution fits perfectly (opinion) as in the water there was resistance to inhibit movement and on muffs there isn't any so broken pieces could connect adequately to cause rotation.

Have a suggestion: Put your engine in F gear, non-operating (obviously) and put a suitable wrench on the prop nut and see if you can roll the engine over without any odd things happening. If so, FB nailed it. Don't see that kind of a problem a freak accident (opinion). Cause and effect. Something is amiss!

 

[Dhord333]

I pulled off the lower unit and the drive shaft seems to be fine. It wouldnt pull and is still turning the propellar just fine. Please tell me if I'm wrong with thay reasoning. However, when I try to remove the nut on the prop shaft to take off the prop, the nut and shaft spin together. I am isolating the propellar so it doesnt spin, but still the nut and prop shaft spin together. Does this mean the prop shaft is broken? If so, how the heck do I get it off. I would think if it is broken, it would pull right out, but that's not happening,

 

[Texasmark]

I pulled off the lower unit and the drive shaft seems to be fine. It wouldnt pull and is still turning the propellar just fine. Please tell me if I'm wrong with thay reasoning. However, when I try to remove the nut on the prop shaft to take off the prop, the nut and shaft spin together. I am isolating the propellar so it doesnt spin, but still the nut and prop shaft spin together. Does this mean the prop shaft is broken? If so, how the heck do I get it off. I would think if it is broken, it would pull right out, but that's not happening,

No. It means that you prop hub is spun...must have a plastic/brass. The prop is locked against the AV plate with a piece of wood so that you can torque on the nut. The prop is locked to the shaft via the spline interface. If the nut and the shaft turn simultaneously, the shaft isn't locked to the prop blades............ You have a loose connection between these two points which translates to prop hub shot.

You are a very lucky man!!!!!!!!

 

[Dhord333]

Texas mark! Thank you sir. So how do I get it off lol?

 

[Dhord333]

Thanks for all help guys. I took it to a prop shop and the prop hub was broken into a bunch of pieces. It was only $25 to fix it.

 

[Texasmark]

Texas mark! Thank you sir. So how do I get it off lol?

Had to have time to think about it....being humble here...no brag (on being humble) just fact! Grin

Put it in F gear and get out your 1 1/16" socket hooked to an impact tool and back her off....like getting a flywheel nut loose. Impacts work when nothing else will, especially on the farm.