5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

[Tileman2]

Hello, just looking for ideas to start. I was going across the lake at about 3/4 throttle, and the boat basically went into neutral. Didn't hit anything. Just had a sound like it was in between gears for like 2 seconds. Now when I shift back and forth form neutral there's nothing, no clunk into gear, no feeling of going into gear....nothing. The motor just revs. Any ideas where I should start ?

Thank you

P.S. and no signs of any trouble before whatsoever, meaning slipping or anything

1988 Hurricane

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

bad coupler
melted upper gears from lack of oil
broken lower driveshaft
broken prop hub insert(plastic)

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Hello, just looking for ideas to start. I was going across the lake at about 3/4 throttle, and the boat basically went into neutral. Didn't hit anything. Just had a sound like it was in between gears for like 2 seconds. Now when I shift back and forth form neutral there's nothing, no clunk into gear, no feeling of going into gear....nothing. The motor just revs. Any ideas where I should start ?

Thank you

P.S. and no signs of any trouble before whatsoever, meaning slipping or anything

1988 Hurricane

Ayuh,.... Drain the drive oil, 'n look for metal,....

Pull the drive off, 'n LOOK it over...

 

[series60]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Open the dog house and have a sniff at the back of the engine for burnt rubber. Pull the drive and inspect the engine coupler.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Thank you. It doesn't have a plastic hub insert. And changed the lower unit oil myself last fall. No chance it could be a cable ? Or is that what you mean by bad coupler ?

Thank for the quick reply, it's much appreciated

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Thank you. It doesn't have a plastic hub insert. And changed the lower unit oil myself last fall. No chance it could be a cable ? Or is that what you mean by bad coupler ?

Thank for the quick reply, it's much appreciated

Ayuh,.... That was then, 'n this is Now,... Drain the oil, 'n Look for metal, 'n water...

The coupler is bolted to the motor, 'n connects to the drive....

Yer problem, Ain't the cable....

 

[markheck1]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Very slim chance since you have to pull it out of gear when under load......
I don't suppose you happened to look at the temp gauge did you?
The coupler is what hooks the motor to the input shaft of the drive, and a failure will cause over heating because the entire drive including the raw water pump in the drive will stop spinning.

Very quick check, put boat in gear, and spin the prop by hand, if it acts "normal" IE goes in and out of being able to turn forward and backwards it's not the cable. you can also look from under the front of drive while someone shifts it to see if the shift shaft rotates.

Other one look behind engine you should be able to see the input shaft to the outdrive, have someone crank it for a sec and see if it turns.....

Yer still pretty much looking at checking the drive oil, and pulling it anyway to fix any of those problems except the cable so if it passes the first test, it's pretty much gonna have to come off..

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Thank you

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Again, thank you very much

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Very slim chance since you have to pull it out of gear when under load......
I don't suppose you happened to look at the temp gauge did you?
The coupler is what hooks the motor to the input shaft of the drive, and a failure will cause over heating because the entire drive including the raw water pump in the drive will stop spinning.

Very quick check, put boat in gear, and spin the prop by hand, if it acts "normal" IE goes in and out of being able to turn forward and backwards it's not the cable. you can also look from under the front of drive while someone shifts it to see if the shift shaft rotates.

Other one look behind engine you should be able to see the input shaft to the outdrive, have someone crank it for a sec and see if it turns.....

Yer still pretty much looking at checking the drive oil, and pulling it anyway to fix any of those problems except the cable so if it passes the first test, it's pretty much gonna have to come off..

Yup, both of you were right. Prop locks up went put in gear. That's something more than I can handle. Any ballpark $$$$ that I'm looking at for repair? The tile business isn't what it was 10 years ago .
Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Yup, both of you were right. Prop locks up went put in gear. That's something more than I can handle. Any ballpark $$$$ that I'm looking at for repair? The tile business isn't what it was 10 years ago .
Thanks

Ayuh,.... It takes a Large straight bladed screwdriver, 'n a catchpan to drain the oil, 'n Look at it...

After that, it takes a 5/8" socket, 'n a couple 9/16" wrenches to pull the drive off, 'n have a Look there....

At that point, you should have narrowed down, Exactly where the problem lies, 'n 'bout what it's gonna take to Fix it....

You haven't dug near deep enough to answer yer question,...
'n even a Tiler can do this tiny bit of Wrenchin',....

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Ayuh,.... It takes a Large straight bladed screwdriver, 'n a catchpan to drain the oil, 'n Look at it...

After that, it takes a 5/8" socket, 'n a couple 9/16" wrenches to pull the drive off, 'n have a Look there....

At that point, you should have narrowed down, Exactly where the problem lies, 'n 'bout what it's gonna take to Fix it....

You haven't dug near deep enough to answer yer question,...
'n even a Tiler can do this tiny bit of Wrenchin',....

Ok, you've inspired me. I've actually done quite a few things mechanically to the engine, like starter, power steering motor, etc. But never dove into the drive system other than replacing a prop and lower unit oil. You're right I'll give it a shot. But today is an antique boat show my family won't miss. Thanks again

 

[series60]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Just had a sound like it was in between gears for like 2 seconds. Now when I shift back and forth form neutral there's nothing, no clunk into gear, no feeling of going into gear....nothing. The motor just revs. Any ideas where I should start ?

That 2 second sound was the drive shaft splines tearing out the coupler splines!
If the coupler is gone then the engine has to come out. Not a big deal if you have someway to lift the engine up enough to access the coupler which is bolted to the flywheel/crankshaft. Pulling the engine is way easier than pulling a car engine. You are obviously good with your hands so don't be put off by all of this. We can help you through it all!

As to the $$$ issue. The coupler will cost $200-300 depending where you buy it. Labor to have a shop do it is pricey ($1000+). Do it yourself with help from this forum (which IMHO is the best place on the net for DIY's) and even with new bellows, gimble bearing, gaskets, shift cable and oil you should be in the neighborhood of $500. You will need a $50 alignment tool which can be had here on iBoats or else where. Hint -eBay -

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

That 2 second sound was the drive shaft splines tearing out the coupler splines!
If the coupler is gone then the engine has to come out. Not a big deal if you have someway to lift the engine up enough to access the coupler which is bolted to the flywheel/crankshaft. Pulling the engine is way easier than pulling a car engine. You are obviously good with your hands so don't be put off by all of this. We can help you through it all!

As to the $$$ issue. The coupler will cost $200-300 depending where you buy it. Labor to have a shop do it is pricey ($1000+). Do it yourself with help from this forum (which IMHO is the best place on the net for DIY's) and even with new bellows, gimble bearing, gaskets, shift cable and oil you should be in the neighborhood of $500. You will need a $50 alignment tool which can be had here on iBoats or else where. Hint -eBay -

Oh man. I really appreciate the info, but now I'm really sad. We love this old boat, it's very fast {was} and hold many people. I know where I can get an engine hoist. Good grief, now what am I getting myself into ? I hope I can handle this before the lake freezes
This place is awesome

 

[series60]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Oh man. I really appreciate the info, but now I'm really sad. We love this old boat, it's very fast {was} and hold many people. I know where I can get an engine hoist. Good grief, now what am I getting myself into ? I hope I can handle this before the lake freezes
This place is awesome

If you have a helper you can probably pull the engine in less than an hour. Pull the 6 nuts off the coupler. Install the new one. Put the engine back in. Align the engine (VERY important). The big time consumer will be gimble bearing - bellows - shift cable - etc if these are needed. My recommendation would be to replace these items while you're there if they haven't been done in a while. At least check the gimble bearing for smooth turning with no ruff spots. Check the bellows to make sure they aren't cracked and leaking. If all is well - Go boating.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Oh man. I really appreciate the info, but now I'm really sad. We love this old boat, it's very fast {was} and hold many people. I know where I can get an engine hoist. Good grief, now what am I getting myself into ? I hope I can handle this before the lake freezes
This place is awesome

Just for curiosity sake... what is the vintage of the boat? and what is your maintenance history with the boat? If is "old" like you say, and the coupler splines have not had good preventive maintenance, you may be looking at what is described in post #13. Keep us posted! and best of luck... Have you got a "good" service manual? Provide the ser. numbers for your engine and drive and you can get the manuals here, free...or go to the mercruiser info thread in the "adults only " sticky at the top of this forum and you can look for your manuals there.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

Just for curiosity sake... what is the vintage of the boat? and what is your maintenance history with the boat? If is "old" like you say, and the coupler splines have not had good preventive maintenance, you may be looking at what is described in post #13. Keep us posted! and best of luck... Have you got a "good" service manual? Provide the ser. numbers for your engine and drive and you can get the manuals here, free...or go to the mercruiser info thread in the "adults only " sticky at the top of this forum and you can look for your manuals there.

Well it's a 1988 Hurricane deck boat. Don't have many records. WE bought it from a place called Rawhide By Green Bay WI. It's a place that takes donated boats and has troubled youths that want to turn their lives around repair them and then they sell the boat. My boat supposedly had the lower unit rebuilt But it's always had a small leak coming in by outdrive. But the boat is always on a lift when not being used so it's never been a problem. Unless it caused this.

Believe me, I'll keep everyone posted because I'm sure I'll be back many times.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

But it's always had a small leak coming in by outdrive. But the boat is always on a lift when not being used so it's never been a problem. Unless it caused this.

was it oil coming in or water coming in
was it oil leaking out, oil would lead me to believe you melted the upper gears.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

But it's always had a small leak coming in by outdrive. But the boat is always on a lift when not being used so it's never been a problem. Unless it caused this.

was it oil coming in or water coming in
was it oil leaking out, oil would lead me to believe you melted the upper gears.

It was just a small trickle of water coming in from the bottom side of the mounting plate {no idea what it's exact name is }

 

[shovelhead_dave]

Re: 5.0 lt Alpha 1 outdrive lost pwer to the prop going across lake

It was just a small trickle of water coming in from the bottom side of the mounting plate {no idea what it's exact name is }

Two quick things:

1. My Stingray did the same thing last year. It was the engine coupler that went bad after the gimble bearing went, thus ripping the splines of the shaft etc. The labor was the killer as I do have a engine crane/hoist that works great for outboards, outdrives, and automotive applications. But, it is not nearly tall enough to lift an engine out of a Stingray 230SX.

2. I also have a leak heading through the transom on the same boat. After tolerating it for most of last season since I couldn't find the source, I investigated further this season. It turns out the shift cable bellows is cracked in several places. So, new bellows for everything just arrived for replacement. Be sure to check all of the bellows while turning the outdrive to lock position in both directions.