1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

[andyman2010]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your help getting this motor running before, but I ran into an issue last night and need some words of wisdom.

Cruising across the lake last night full speed suddenly the motor lost its thrust but was still running fine. Its like it slipped into neutral. At very low speed it will run and move across the water slowly, but when I give it throttle it winds up as its not in gear. Let it idle back down and it will move.. albeit slowly.

It has the Forward Neutral Reverse shifter and I was hoping for pointers before I start to tear into her. I am wondering where to begin looking?

The Linkage for the F-N-R was not right when I got the motor. The 3 shifter positions were off. Neutral was all the way back where reverse should have been. The middle and front shifter position are both forward.

She runs sooooo goooood. I know this must be simple.. or at least im hoping so cause I love this motor.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

chances are its the shifting dog in the lower unit, could be a slipping prop hub. I would check lower unit lube and look for metal shavings, I had a 58 evinrude and I ran it alot back in the day and the shift dog was my weak link, how does it run in reverse?

 

[andyman2010]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

Reverse is not there at all. Reverse position is neutral. Neutral position is forward, forward also is forward. The lower unit definately is making some bad sounds. I turned the prop by hand and can hear some nasty grinding in the lower unit.

Obviously I should replace the shift dog, do I need to drop the whole lower unit, or just prop housing.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

Its been to long for me to remember, some one else around here may know and being that your sea king is closely related to evinrude you might try asking over at the Johnson, evinrude forum. those guys will have the answer's I'm sure. Good luck

 

[F_R]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

Reverse is not there at all. Reverse position is neutral. Neutral position is forward, forward also is forward. The lower unit definately is making some bad sounds. I turned the prop by hand and can hear some nasty grinding in the lower unit.

Obviously I should replace the shift dog, do I need to drop the whole lower unit, or just prop housing.

You have major damage in the lower unit. No way to tell you what the extent is without taking it apart for a looksee. Obviously, it is much more than just the shift dog.

The prop does not have a rubber hub, so that is not the slippage problem.

 

[andyman2010]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

Hey, I am weighing my options would this lower unit work?
I figure if I can purchase a used might save me time and money, or would you recommend rebuilding.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Johnson-Evinrude-lower-unit-assy-1956-7-5-HP-others-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2ead62493eQQitemZ200477395262QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

 

[F_R]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

Should fit up ok. I guess you just have to trust him that it is ok inside.

 

[andyman2010]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

Well for all the headaches of finding the correct gears, shift dog, pinion, etc, I bought the one off Ebay. Said in good condition so fingers crossed.

I have question though, I also found this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280459547408&viewitem=
and noticed in the pic the spring on the drive shaft. When I had mine apart for the impeller I did not see that assembly. Is this a shock absorber of sorts, tension for the shifter, super important? Curious before I reassemble if I need to hunt this down.

 

[fix_it]

Re: 1956 Sea King - slipping into neutral

The spring and washers on top of the driveshaft form the lower crankcase seal for the motor. There is also a gasket and a carbon or ceramic seal that goes with it.