help me out with this old motor please

[pshabi]

have a little jon boat that I just bought a week ago. It has an ancient, 18 HP outboard motor. I don't know the year or make as the motor has been painted over.<br /><br /> I was running it Sunday and it started acting a little funny. First, when I had it opened up cruising, it<br /> was getting a little loud. Sounded like maybe the case/cover was rattling a little, but it wasn't. Just a<br /> little knocking that wasn't normal, not too loud. It kind of came and went.<br /><br /> I'm more concerned with this: As I was coming in for the night, when I had the boat at full throttle,<br /> the boat sounded like it was slipping out of gear. I'm very, very new to boats. Is there some type of gear/transmission oil that I need to check/fill on this type of motor?<br /> If not what can I do to service this so that my gear doesn't slip? Any help is appreciated as I'm<br /> getting a little paranoid here.

 

[JB]

Re: help me out with this old motor please

Hi, PShabi.<br /><br />Search the engine and its mount for numbers. We may be able to identify it from a model number or serial number.<br /><br />Go to your local library and find a book on maintaining outboard engines. <br /><br />There is a good chance that you have a spun hub or sheared pin, loosening the connection between the engine and prop. That causes the engine to "spin the wheel".<br /><br />Without better identification of your engine there is not much more we can do.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[NMplayer]

Re: help me out with this old motor please

OK Its going to be really hard to help you without knowing what you have. I'm guessing its a Johnson or Evinrude by the horsepower.<br /><br />It would be good if you could post a picture of it. Also, try to find serial and model numbers on the transom bracket. <br /><br />In the mean tume, there will be two slotted plugs on the left side of the motor as you look at it from behind. They are near the bottom of the leg. These are the fill and vent plugs for the lower unit. Take them both out and drain the oil. Note the color. If ir's white or creamy it's got water in it ( not good). If its black and it stinks its old. Get a little of the oil on your thumb when its comining out and rub it with your finger. See if there are any metallic particles in it.<br /><br />Fill it back up with good lower unit lube.<br /><br />If there is water in it or a lot of metal don't run it. It probably isn't a real good idea to run it anyway until you know whats wrong with it. Your main job has to be to find out the brand model and year odf your motor. There are a lot of folks here who can help you do that with some more info.

 

[pshabi]

Re: help me out with this old motor please

Just above the prop, there is an opening and it's been spewing some whitish creamy gassy stuff. I thought it was the exhaust and was just spitting some backed up gunk. Could it be that this is my drain for the gear oil and that the plug is missing? It is fully opened. I bet that is what has happened. Gimme some feedback. Thanks for the early help.

 

[NMplayer]

Re: help me out with this old motor please

No that opening above the prop is probably just exhaust