Frustrated/lost lower end

Icr242005

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Messages
36
First off, thanks to all the ppl on here helping me out this project. Finally got boat set up and running pretty good. Now when I get to 22mph or more, it feels like I hit something in the water. I was in 8 feet of water cruising at 25 and scared the heck out of me, felt/sounded like I hit something. I went back at a lower speed and seen nothing, did not hit anything. I moved on and it did it again. Same thing, went at 15 over same area and nothing. It feels just like I am hitting a branch or small small log. Is my lower end "jumping" out of gear?
 

Jiggz

Captain
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
Messages
3,909
I do not believe it's jumping out of gear but it sure does sound like the clutch dogs are jumping out. You can try adjusting the shift rod or linkage to have a slight forward bias. Be careful, though for if you biased forward too much you will not have reverse or the reverse will fail to engage. Bottom, line, do it small increment at a time while testing along the way.
 

Icr242005

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Messages
36
Made couple small adjustment, still have reverse and now it is doing that but at about 27mph. If it's not "slipping at 10 or 15 mph what is moving, shifting, giving at 25mph to let it jump out of position or slip? I understand a little about gears and teeth. If their is enough Metal on the dogs to grab at 20 mph, what is moving/shifting/sliding to allow the dogs to move away from each other to slip? I'm just wanting to figure this out to see if it's worth repairing.
 

Jiggz

Captain
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
Messages
3,909
With everything gapped and working correctly, there shouldn't be any movement in the prop driveshaft that will allow clutch dog to disengage unless there is a big wear in bearings. Check the prop driveshaft for forward and aft movement and there shouldn't be any or worse yet side to side movement. If test is good, i.e. no movement in the prop driveshaft, make a little more adjustment on the shift linkage.

Can you post where you made the linkage adjustment? Did you do it at the lower shift rod or the upper shift rod?
 

Icr242005

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Messages
36
I have made adjustment at all three, that I'm aware of. I have never missed with this stuff so doing what I think is right. Adjustment at remote control to get my neutral safety switch in center. The linkage under the hood toward the back of engine (right side of sitting in boat) seemed to take some of the slop out of cable. Then the last is at the turnbuckle that connects the shaft that you would have to remove to take lower end off. Yes there is some end play at the prop shaft. Maybe a 1/16 to 1/8 inch back and forth. No side to side play. I have no issue with taking lower end apart if it helps me figure out what's wrong but if lower end is junk I will just run it this year (under 20mph) and mess with it this winter. When I started going through this, there was a torn of slop in the shaft were it goes into lower unit, now the shaft when in gear is pretty stiff.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,084
It always helps if we know what were working on???

Go for a ride, unhook the shift cable and shift by hand.
In F give it some gas and see if it does it at 20??
If so then the dogs probably bad.

You don't adjust at the shifter.
You adjust at the connector when you find N
The N safety switch should be adjusted at the switch itself.

​The shift rod into the drive isn't an adjustment point.
​Some do adjust that but it can be done without touching that.

​The shift cable itself might be bad?
 

Icr242005

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Messages
36
No Title

I measures and counted thread on everything that I have moved so I will put everything back. I will put in water and do what u said. I have a couple questions though. First pic #11, This adjustment is just to find neutral position after you put lower end back on correct? Second and third pic #25, Is this where you want me to disconnect the shift cable?
 

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jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,084
If you look close at the connector, you can see where the nuts were on the threads.

​Yes unhook the shift one.
 
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