Merc 165 lower drive question

[vernbatley]

Just reinstalled the lower drive on my first boat, bought as a fixer upper. No experience with boats at all. Discovered that the prop shaft could be held and stopped while cranking the engine in forward and reverse. I assume this is not right. A ratcheting noise is present during this procedure. Boat has a inline 6cyl with 165 mercruiser, 1979 year. Can someone tell me if this is normal, or what problems may exist?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Merc 165 lower drive question

Just reinstalled the lower drive on my first boat, bought as a fixer upper. No experience with boats at all. Discovered that the prop shaft could be held and stopped while cranking the engine in forward and reverse. I assume this is not right. A ratcheting noise is present during this procedure. Boat has a inline 6cyl with 165 mercruiser, 1979 year. Can someone tell me if this is normal, or what problems may exist?

Why would you want to hold the prop back while cranking the engine?? Doesn't sound very safe to me.

While NOT cranking the engine... move the remote shifter to forward, prop should ratchet clockwise, and lock ccw. Neurtral freespin both ways, Reverse ratchet ccw and lock cw.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Merc 165 lower drive question

Just reinstalled the lower drive on my first boat, bought as a fixer upper. No experience with boats at all. Discovered that the prop shaft could be held and stopped while cranking the engine in forward and reverse. I assume this is not right. A ratcheting noise is present during this procedure. Boat has a inline 6cyl with 165 mercruiser, 1979 year. Can someone tell me if this is normal, or what problems may exist?

One problem is that you can crank the engine over with the shifter in forward or reverse. The neutral safety switch should disable the ignition switch.
It could be that the throttle only button is sticking and you are not actually shifting into gear. Need to know how you got it to turn over while in gear.

 

[vernbatley]

Re: Merc 165 lower drive question

I used a remote starter switch to by pass the neutral saftey. Prop was not installed. Cranking rpm at the prop shaft is pretty slow. I'll check the throttle only button in the control. I just recently discovered it. Thanks for responding!

 

[vernbatley]

Re: Merc 165 lower drive question

We noticed the ratcheting while checking to make sure the shifter was actually working. Was unsure if the ratcheting was normal. Sounds like it is. I need to recheck forward and reverse to make sure they are locking in. Holding on to the prop shaft is probably not in the manual. Thanks for the information about the ratcheting.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Merc 165 lower drive question

Here is how to check your shifter: Shove the control all the way forward, Stick the prop on (for leverage, no nut needed) Prop should turn freely (maybe some clicking) in the clockwise direction and lock CCW, control to neutral, free in both directions, control all the way in reverse free CCW, lock CW. Good luck.