65 Starflite - Won't budge

[rheine]

Picked up a 1965 75hp Starflite that was running last season.
I got her mounted in the shop.
101
It won't turn over manually meaning I have all the plugs out and I did the mighty rope pull. I noticed the prop won't turn either. Shouldn't this electric shift fall back to neutral with the battery disconnected? I am thinking the thing is stuck in gear but I don't know how to check that. Not sure where to start.


Thanks
R

 

[Daviet]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

Drop the lower unit and see if the powerhead or the lower unit will turn by hand.

 

[rheine]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

OK, got her turning over and it is in forward. I am thinking now that maybe it is supposed to end up in forward when off or is that just the hydro shift? I have not hooked up a battery yet.

 

[rheine]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

Found part of the problem. I went to drain the gear case. I got a thimble of water and about 4oz of oil. I went ahead and pulled it so now I am down to just the torpedo. Well, it is still stuck in forward. Seems like it should be fairly easy to spin the prop. It's not. Definitely has more than gear to gear resistance. I am reluctant to pull the prop shaft but that is the only option I can think of. Wouldn't you know it, forward is all the way in the back. What kind of special tools workaround am I getting myself into. Oh ya, the coils test at 7-8 ohms each on my cheapo ohmmeter. No metal in the oil. I even swept it with a magnet.

R

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

That motor should default to neutral. It is an Electra-matic

 

[rheine]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

I got neutral back! I flushed out the case and put in some light weight oil and worked it for 20 minutes. I think they just let it gum up a little. There was some milkshake when I drained it earlier and I see a new impeller in there so I think I know what to do here. Now if I can just find another set of push buttons.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

I got neutral back! I flushed out the case and put in some light weight oil and worked it for 20 minutes. I think they just let it gum up a little. There was some milkshake when I drained it earlier and I see a new impeller in there so I think I know what to do here. Now if I can just find another set of push buttons.

If the switch is not physically broken, it is possible to carefully take it apart and clean the contacts.

 

[rheine]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

Phenol boards are broken but I found another original switch. Here is something else. I have the torpedo in hand. I can't spin the prop with a couple of fingers. I have to grab the blade and pull it around. It is in nuetral but this doesn't seem right. Any experience here?

R

 

[Daviet]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

If it had water in it maybe there is a bearing starting to seize up.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 65 Starflite - Won't budge

Yep, sounds like it's time for a rebuild. The least you'll need is a seal kit. May have to replace a bearing too.