Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

[Siglack]

Hi I just bought an old lets say late 50's or early 60's 18 hp outboard motor. On it;s first time in the water it fired up easily and powered my little 14 foot boat around just great. After rideing around for a while I started to hear a clunk - like it was coming out of gear. The speed did not decrease withthe noise. After annother hour of fishing I started heading back and the clunk was now an issue. The faster I went the faster the clunk was (once every 5 sencons) - the slower the slower the clunk was (once every 15 seconds). Other that this clunk that really jerks the whole boat the engine runs great. What is the least expensive was to fix this issue.<br /> Thanks Tom

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Sounds like it's jumping out of gear on you, slipping a tooth or two on the clutch dog. It is probably worn dogs, though it might be worn linkage or just out of adjustment. <br /><br />Most likely it'll get worse. What you do next depends on whether you want to repair it yourself. It's not a big deal to swap a good used lower unit on to those. Otherwise, it's off to the outboard motor repair shop. If you decide to repair it yourself, you'll need a manual (OMC is best, the Seloc on those is a good second best). We can help if you need further advice. Give us a model number though, so we know what we're dealing with.

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Yes I have to agree- From what I have been reading around here I suspect you are right. I doubt that I will be able to find a lower unit for the motor, let alone find one cheep. I will post the serial # later tonight after I go home. I would like to fix it myself, but have no boat motor experience doing so. I can change a thermostat, fuel pump and water pump on my jeep, so I guess it would not be that hard to do the some work on a boat motor, right? I have also read here on this site that just turning the dog around or grinding the dog square could fix the issue. What are your thought on that? In any event I guess I will need the serial # to get a manual.<br /> Thanks Tom

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

I wouldn't worry about finding a good used lower for that, bet you can find one on eBay for something like $30 plus shipping - just look every once in a while. The tough part might be to know what other years fit yours. <br /><br />I also suspect you can turn the clutch dog around, but not sure on your model. It is possible that it's the linkage. Manual should clear it up.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

I wouldn't worry about finding a good used lower for that, bet you can find one on eBay for something like $30 plus shipping - just look every once in a while. The tough part might be to know what other years fit yours. <br /><br />I also suspect you can turn the clutch dog around, but not sure on your model. It is possible that it's the linkage. Manual should clear it up.

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Hi Thanks for the info. I thnk that is what I am planing to do. I need to gain a little more info on the motor first. Here is what I can tell you about the motor to help identify it. It is blue and white and it looks like there are two lines runing into a glass fuel container (filter?). Ther serial/Model # is 15020-24017. I also am not really sure what the lower unit entails. I also am not sure how to seal it back up. I will buy a book once I know the right one to buy a used book would be fine as well. I don't want to make matters worse either, but turning the dog around seems to be the easiest thing to do - Not sure how to adjust the linkage if it needs it?? Does the clutch dog come with a lower unit?<br />Thanks again <br />Tom

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

"15020" would make it a 1957 18hp. The factory manuals are the best, but the Seloc Manual (Coles) covering 1 & 2 cylinder motors from that timespan is also supposed to be good. Either are available from iboats (this site), used from bookstores, or various other outlet. The clutch dog is in the lower unit.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

You can buy one here for $250.00 I would repair it! <br /><br /> web page

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Thanks this this site (full of good info), I am finding out that I may not have an 18 HP as I was led to believe, but maybe a 15 HP instead. Maybe a 1956?<br />Thanks Tom

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Why would you think that? Did you come up with different numbers?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

57' 18 HP<br /><br />web page

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

56' 15 HP<br /><br /> web page

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Thanks for the info Rick.<br /> From what I can see the text on the tank is a closer match to the 18 HP motor and not the 15 HP motor. I started to think it was a 15 HP motor based on the model # starting with 15. So I guess it's an 18 HP motor??<br />Thanks Tom

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Thanks Everyone for being so - Helpful!<br />I am going to take everyone advise and first try to fix it myself - I can't seem to locate a "cheap" lower at his time so I plan to get a manual and attempt to fix it myself. thanks to everyone I now know it is truly an 18 HP 1957 motor in need of a lower unit and a new seal kit to put it back together. I will check the linkage the best I can and if the clutch dog is not in too bad of shape I will try turning it around so that the issue only exists in reverse. One last question probable will be answered by the manual, but what type of fluid do I need to fill the lower back up with, and could it be over filled?<br />Thanks again and I will post the out come for others to benifit as I have.<br /> Thanks Tom

 

[DJ]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Sig,<br /><br />80W-90 will work fine. Get the marine stuff.<br /><br />Replace the fill/drain plug seals when you refill it.

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Ok here is the news-<br />I took the lower off and apart and went to a local boat repair place for the necessary parts to fix it. He said the gears look good, but YES the clutch dog was bad. I bought a new one and the new seals as well and headed home to fix it. Here is where I am haveing a little trouble. It looks as if it pretty easy to put back together. (locical) BUt... After a few tries the prop will not spin freely! I did not put any gear oil in, but the prop should still spin- right? It seems it it spines easy a quarter turn then locks up. (this happens both before and after connnecting the lower to the motor. I DON'T want to toast this motor, because it about all I can afford for a while. I called back to the boat store and they said maybe the impeller located in the water pump was not in the correct position, so I took the water pump off and checked it and put it back together. Still haveing the same issue. What are your thoughts?<br />Thanks Tom

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

If the LU ias in neutral, the prop must turn freely or you didn't assemble the LU correctly. You used the shop manual, right?

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

_ It looked so simple - Did not buy the manual - that would cost another $30 dollars- It should only go in one way- all the parts fit fine- maybe there is a particular sequence I am missing?<br /> Thanks Tom

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

There's not much that can go wrong when reassembling that unit. First, make sure the locator pins are properly seated in the forward bearing and the rear carrier. If they're not seated correctly they can bind things up. Second, make sure the shift fork is properly seated in the cradle that rides in the clutch dog. If it popped out or isn't lined up properly it can bind things up. Also, check the pin that the fork pivots on. If you have the type with just a pin, make sure it's lined up into the slots in the bottom half of the gearcase. If you have the type with a small, Phillips headed screw that holds it in place, make sure it's lined up in the hole in the fork.<br /><br />Are all the thrust washers in place? There are two or three (depending on which unit you have) - one on the clutch dog side of each gear (on all), and one under the pinion gear (on some).<br /><br />Try turning things as you assemble the gearcase. Does the driveshaft turn freely? With the pinion gear in place? With the waterpump impeller in place? With the propshaft/gears in place? With the skeg half loosely in place? With the skeg half screws torqued down? By process of elimination you should turn up where it's binding up...<br /><br />Refill the unit with 90wt. Hypoid oil made for outboard lower units.<br /><br />- Scott

 

[Siglack]

Re: Evinrude makeing a clunk noise

Well, I finally got it all back together and all seems to be working fine as I test it in a bucket.<br /> Except--<br /> Forward works fine reverse works fine, but neutral also works as reverse. It seems to be catching reverse in neutral. I discovered after several try's (while motor is not running) that by several reverse to forward gear changes I can sometimes get the prop to spin free otherwise it goes to reverse. I spins good and free except for a light click that comes from the lower (?) when it finally does go into reverse. I have revivified that when I attached the lower both the prop was in neutral and the shifter was also in neutral. Should I try to re-attach it again either while in forward or reverse? Any ideas on how to get the neutral working better would be great. One last thing although the clutch dog looked the same the cogs (two on each side) were offset a little on the original but not the replacement. Would this cause this to happen.<br /> Thanks Tom