Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

[Yovi Bay]

Hi,

I have a runabout with a 1988 50hp Mercury and single stick Quicksilver controls.

I got the boat beat up 3 years ago and have restored it slowly as time and money have allowed.

The engine was serviced a few months back and has new steering and cables. I start it at home very second week and yesterday was the maiden voyage............. But :-(

On the trailer it was hard to start in neutral so we would press the button on the gear stick as advised push forward out of gear for more revs and it would start. Let her warm up and then drop it back to neutral. With earmuffs on it would go into forward or reverse and the prop would spin well.

Putting it in the water for the first time, again too cold/old to start in true neutral so pressed the button on the gear stick and turned up the revs. The engine would start but after a few seconds it would jump into gear take off and then conk out.

Any ideas?

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Cable adjustment comes to mind or worn shifter

 

[JB]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Revving a multi cylinder 2 stroke beyond about 1500 rpm is very dangerous. If it won't start correctly, fix it. Working around correct operation is a very bad idea.

 

[Yovi Bay]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Revving a multi cylinder 2 stroke beyond about 1500 rpm is very dangerous. If it won't start correctly, fix it. Working around correct operation is a very bad idea.

Ummm, OK, excuse the mega noobie (and gullible one if I listen to my local mechanic by the sound of it)

The local boat repair guy told me to do it like that. Apparently acts like giving a car some accelerator when starting???? The button on the stick acting like a clutch I guess. If not for that why is it there?


Also noticed that the little blow hole that is supposed to squirt water out is only spitting the odd drop out and is other wise blowing hot air, any suggestions there?

 

[IamCanadian]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Sounds like you need to check the water pump impeller, It should have a nice steady stream of water out of that "Blow hole".
The second thing I do after testing compression on a new to me motor is replace the impeller!(no mater how good it may look)
Age of a motor does not matter too much in regards to how easy it will start, Have you done a good tune up and carb rebuild, maybe even fuel pump rebuild for good measure?

It is a good idea to work out all bugs and make the motor run like new before any Maiden voyage, What work have you done to the motor so far? And yes limit neutral revs to 1500 or less. And make sure you warm it up nice before you put the hammer down.

 

[Yovi Bay]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Guys, many thanks for helping out a newbie.

Ok so tune and carbi have happened, my mechanic carried these out but due to my distance from him and my want to learn some basic knowledge I have taken to the forums

Watched a YouTube video and have successfully removed the leg and gotten to the impeller.

The worrying part is that while I'm now sure it was the impeller, the impeller itself is shredded, not one blade left.

Stupidly when I got it I turned it over a few times for a few seconds WITHOUT water and am really hoping that was the reason it tore up and not anything more sinister.


What do you think?

Now have to price an impeller and one gasket

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Usint the throttle advance is normal for starting a cold engine but it should not go into gear. Might just be a cable shifter adjustment is needed. I think you'll be fine with a new impeller, be sure to try and get all the pieces of old impeller cleaned out so you don't have them clogging up any water passages in the engine. I always put a whole water pump kit in if I don't know how old the water pump is. Its possible that the surface the inpeller rides on is worn and rough and helped to "shred" your old impeller.

 

[Yovi Bay]

Re: Engine jumping into gear from high rev neutral

Usint the throttle advance is normal for starting a cold engine but it should not go into gear. Might just be a cable shifter adjustment is needed. I think you'll be fine with a new impeller, be sure to try and get all the pieces of old impeller cleaned out so you don't have them clogging up any water passages in the engine. I always put a whole water pump kit in if I don't know how old the water pump is. Its possible that the surface the inpeller rides on is worn and rough and helped to "shred" your old impeller.

THanks Georgesalmon.

got it out and all the hundreds of little bits that have broken off it.

ordered a new kit and will get next week.

with the jumping in gear thing, when revs are up (with button in) and the cowling cover off it is stillin the neutral position. however after a few seconds the prop clunks and engages spinning ike it was in forward gear, however under the cover it is still in the "N" position.


this situation does not occur when the gear is in the true neutral position only when the button is depressed and the gear stick is revved up in neutral/forward position.