Alpha One pops out of gear under load

[00stingray190rs]

Hey guys I will try and be as detailed as possible. Ok so Ive been wakeboarding since about March almost every weekend and decided to buy a tower. Today while I was pulling my buddy up out of the water and bout to plane the boat reved and sounded like some grinding. I got my buddy in and it worked fine under low throttle and reverse. So I went to hit it and right before the boat planed it did it again, so I got more people in the front and that did the trick no problems. It is a 2000 4.3 mer cruiser efi with alpha one oudrive. No problems before. Also has a aftermarket stainless steel prop and reverse sticks in gear. Some people on Yahoo Answers said it sounds like my shift cable need adjusting. Does that sound like my problem?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

check the oil level and condition in the drive .

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

any other ideas?

 

[bomar76]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

Yes.

Post what the oil level was in the drive and it's condition.

Also, how much shavings and garbage on the drain plu?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

any other ideas?

Ayuh,.... Ya gotta Start somewhere,+ that would be Draining the outdrive to inspect the oil for water, or ground Metal...

At this point, I'd say you need the outdrive Rebuilt or Replaced,...
Along with a new lower shift cable...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

You might try a spare prop and see if the prop was slipping.

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

OK so I drained the drive and the oil level was spot on and the only type of metal I found was almost the size of a grain of sand and wasnt much on the drain plug. Oil didnt smell burned and was a dark green with a hint of blue. Anything else I can do?

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

ok I did what you guys ask no what. LoL

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

Anything else I can do?

Did you try a different prop?

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

I was told that it wouldn't be the prop since it will still drive forward and reverse.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

Is it actually jumping out of gear? When it revs up, does the prop stop turning and the engine is reving up as if it was in neutral?

Are you sure the prop isnt causing cavitation...based on the new weight added to the boat from the tower?

You said by adding weight foward the issue didnt happen...sounds like cavitation to me...(especially if the prop is still spinning when this "effect" happens).

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

Edited

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

Well I went wakeboarding Friday and Saturday. It didn't happen til late Saturday. It didn't come out of gear it just reved up so I quickly put it back to neutral. I listened for any type of grinding or anything unusual sounding but nothing. Could the bushing of slipped under load in the prop?

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

It didn't come out of gear it just reved up so I quickly put it back to neutral.

Big piece of info for diagnosing...

Knowing that, the prop could have slipped...however, if it slipped, I would have thought that the rubber would be gone. Does anyone know if they can slip and still function?

Still sounds like the prop didnt bite, and caused cavitation. Which is no other issue than a change in driving technique, or new prop. Were you turning when this happened? Or just pulling straight?

 

[bomar76]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

Sounds more and more like cavitation.

Learn to use the trim.

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

I was going straight and ever since I've had the boat I start off with the trim down and in this case no difference even with the tower.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

What pitch prop? If it didnt pop out of gear, and no unusual noises...

I can only think of two things (already covered), you spun the prop, or cavitation.

If you have a spare, which you should, try it. It doesnt sound like an outdrive issue.

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

I know what cavitation is but to happen like that after I've driven my boat the same way sice I've had the tower on. Can that happen

 

[00stingray190rs]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

OK I took the prop off and the back of the prop had dried up rubber almost like chalk on the back of it. Look like it came from around the outside of the bearing. Is that normal or bad, but anyway Im going to take it to a prop repair place to get it rebuilt and then take the boat out to see if I can get it to mess up again.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alpha One pops out of gear under load

A prop hub can slip and the prop will work at slow speeds, but will let go when you give it some throttle. Just for future reference, it is always a good idea to keep a cheap, used prop onboard you can use as an emergency spare.