Chrysler 609HA (60HP)

jez_9540

Cadet
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
15
Hi all, I'm new here, and new to boats, although have worked on and restored a lot of cars in my time, so pretty capable when it comes to servicing and maintaining engines. I have just bought a Fletcher Arrowman 140 (cannot find any info on this boat anywhere on the internet, but that's another topic!). But it came with what I'm assuming is the original engine, a 60HP Chrysler 609HA.

So I currently have it up and running and surprising well given its age, but I have two major problems which only surfaced on my first outing with it. They are as follows:

1: I cannot open the throttle all the way. As in when I have the throttle (on the control end) fully forward (or back), it doesn't go much more than idle. But if I adjust it, by screwing the end of the cable in/out, then it idles faster than I could previously get it to run. It is like there isn't the length of movement required to achieve full idle - full throttle on the carbs. So simple fix would be to extend the arm so it achieves a longer throw, but will this interfere with the timing advance? Or Am I just missing something really simple here....

2: I may or may not have broken something fairly serious in the lower unit/gearbox. However I cannot for the life of me get the actual gearbox off. The lower unit is out, prop off, seal off, nut behind that and in the gearbox is off, and nut on the top is off, and the small screw pin is removed from the side, but I cannot split the two. The end nearest the prop can be split a small amount, but where the longer bolt is tight to the casting above it and will not budge. Have I missed something or is this just a case of the bolt being seized within the castings due to it never being removed and being much older than I am!

I will endeavour to get some pictures of it all tomorrow, but in the meantime, any and all help is much appreciated!
 

chirombo

Cadet
Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
22
Assume you're posting from the UK? The Arrowman was a developed from the Arrowflyte 14..think is only 13ft though..they called it the 129. I'd need a pic to verify. I'll leave the rest to the experts - I have a 55hp, not a later developed 60hp, but 1: sounds like the fast idle button, or lever, is pulled out / engaged on the remote controller - push it in and you will have full travel - don't do this with the engine running on muffs, or without any load. The button / lever prevents the throttle from moving past that fast idle / warmup position. The factory manual should cover the timing & sync.
 

jez_9540

Cadet
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
15
Assume you're posting from the UK? The Arrowman was a developed from the Arrowflyte 14..think is only 13ft though..they called it the 129. I'd need a pic to verify. I'll leave the rest to the experts - I have a 55hp, not a later developed 60hp, but 1: sounds like the fast idle button, or lever, is pulled out / engaged on the remote controller - push it in and you will have full travel - don't do this with the engine running on muffs, or without any load. The button / lever prevents the throttle from moving past that fast idle / warmup position. The factory manual should cover the timing & sync.


Hi, Thanks for the help. Yes I am in the UK, sadly I have no factory manual with it, so if anyone has any images they are happy to share, that would be much appreciated. Particularly of parts and part nos. relating to gearbox and driveshaft (pinion gear and driveshaft are currently broken....)

As for problem 1: This turned out to be a plate in the control end being fitted the wrong way round resulting in the cable being halfway through its travel before it started - easy fix!

Problem 2 however while I have already found the problem (see attached images...). Finding parts is proving a minefield. I'm assuming similar engines shared the same gears, but have no way of telling. Any images, part nos. (or equivalent parts) that can point me in the right direction would be much appreciated! I'm desperate to keep the old girl going, especially as so far the rest runs really nice!



Last picture just to show the rest in case that helps with identification for parts. All teeth and shafts are still good, which is more than can be said for the other two parts!...

And just because you seem to know something about Fletchers, I have attached some pictures of the boat (cosmetics will be tackled once everything else is reliable!). The boat itself while it says 140 is nearer 15ft than 14 coming in about 14.5 - 14.7 feet, and as far as I can tell is much older than my cousins Arrowflyte (pic attached of the two together). I will be starting a post on the boat itself shortly, but just for you in case you missed it!











Hope you enjoy the pics and thanks in advance for any help!
 

Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,588
Sorry but no pics are shown.
Are the gears okey? Is it the clutch dog that is bad.

I assume as I have that kind of engine myself it is 60Hp twin carb 608 or 609HA.
It has the smaller LU similar to the early 35, 45 and 55Hp.
Later there was a 65Hp twin carb engine with the same block and it had a lager and way differnet LU from the 60Hp.

Check out Ebay, there might be a LU there or it will show up.

EDIT Read your latest post again and see you are i the UK. I am in Sweden.

Is it the pinion gear that is bad?

I have a LU (smaller typ) for a twin carb 55-60Hp for spare.

There is a LU at Ebay right now, but in the US.
 
Last edited:

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,072
Your motor is a 1974 include that and the model# when asking for parts or help.
boatsdotnet has some parts diagrams for some of the older Chryslers.
So does mastertechmarine in Milton, Fl.
This site sells parts too.
Sometimes the pics are too big to post?
​Try using Shutterfly or another photo sharing site.
 

jez_9540

Cadet
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
15
Sorry, are you guys having issues seeing the pictures? I can see them fine in my browser (Chrome). All Pics are 200-300k. Will try again. But put one in each post. Please bear with me!
 

jez_9540

Cadet
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
15
IMG-20170829-WA0003.jpg
Oh dear on my driveshaft! (you can also see the pinion gear is missing two teeth!
 

Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,588
How are the forward and reverse gear look?
The teeth and the clutch dog.

If the forward and reverse gear are okey then I would suggest you to check with Franz Marine.
Maybe he has a used driveshaft and pinion gear.
 

jez_9540

Cadet
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
15
Thanks for that, I have sent Franz Marine an email, and will wait to hear from them.

Forward and reverse are luckily looking ok. You said you might have a lower unit that might be spare? It doesnt by any chance look like this does it?

IMG_20170831_154030.jpg

IMG_20170831_154039.jpg

IMG_20170831_154052.jpg

Would I be correct in hoping that they might even share the same driveshafts (with matching splines). Although worst case scenario is that I could manufacture a driveshaft to match different splines, as I run and machining and fabrication company, and we specialize in historic motor racing, so do this sort of thing every now and then! But obviously that's going to be a lot more expensive (mainly in time that I don't have!) than finding one if possible. Pinion gears I really don't want to have made as that will cost a fortune!
 

Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,588
Yes that is the smaller LU which was on the early twin carb 60Hp and yes I have one in spare.
The driveshaft is larger then the one for 35, 45, 55Hp with similar design.

If you search on Ebay "Chrysler 60Hp outboard" you will find one LU unit there for sale 150 dollars but in the US.
 

chirombo

Cadet
Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
22
Contact Hank at American Marine in Bidford on Avon - it's likely he may have parts for the 60. He's been helpful with my 45 & 55 and a 4 Chrysler I serviced for a mate.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,072
Your unlucky that it broke!!
​Then again your lucky it broke.
See the twisted splines?? They usually bend and don't break and NEVER come apart.

​Sold a 78 140 for scrap because the lower unit wouldn't come off.
 
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