motor locked up?

[norton64]

I have a 1981 90hp evinrude, and I took it on the water last month, and it locked up. A friend took off the lower unit, blew out the water lines and said the pump is fine. I took it out again, after about 20 minutes, it acted like it locked up. I put it in neutral, and it did fine. It kept doing that. Now it wont turn over at all, just "click, click", like its locked up. Now what? I can't turn it at all. Where can I get a repair manual?

 

[iRich]

Re: motor locked up?

ummm, is your battery charged? Have you tried turning the motor over by hand?<br />You can probably order a manual from this site or do a search on the net. Ebay may have one for your motor also.<br /><br />Rich

 

[Reel Appeal]

Re: motor locked up?

Norton,<br /> Is your motor getting oil(oil injection working if equipped?).Did you mix 2 cycle oil in the gas?Sounds like classic over-heating symptoms...Also,is the impeller in the water pump installed in the right direction?Is it pumping water?Thermostat(s) stuck closed?<br />If the motor is seized,try removing all the spark plugs and spray a penetrating oil(Marvel Mystery Oil) in each hole(thoroughly).Let oil sit for a while.Leave plugs out and try rotating flywheel BY HAND.If it wont move,internal damage has occured. <br />Solittle offers excellent advice also>

 

[Solittle]

Re: motor locked up?

I agree with Norton on the Marvel Mystery oil. Put engine in as close to horizontal as possible when you squirt the oil in the cyl try to get it to cover 360 degrees. Let it sit for at least 24 hours, try to rotate the flywheel by hand but if is still stuck put a socket wrench with an extension to get some leverage on the flywheel nut. If it breaks free do a compression check. I think I would also pull the heads to check the top of the pistons and the cylinder walls. If OK at that point do yourself a favor put in a new water pump. Giving it to a friend to blow in water lines tells you nothing about what is or is not going on inside the pump.

 

[norton64]

Re: motor locked up?

iin response to Solittle and the others, I was going to take off the lower unit, and when I took out the oil plugs, about half a pint of water come out, and no oil. I know there was oil in there, but where did it go, and where did the water come from? There was some metal shavings on the screw on the lower oil plug. What kind of damage do you think there is?

 

[Solittle]

Re: motor locked up?

Well you could pull the head as suggested and look. We can't tell from here.

 

[BillP]

Re: motor locked up?

The gear case oil probably went out the seals at the prop shaft. Water came into the gearcase at that seal or at the one below the waterpump.<br /><br />Damage like this can be from minor to max. You have to take the unit apart to check. The ones I've seen that locked up while running required major rework. I had a merc lockup at full speed and it sounded like a screeh owl...and the gears were totaled to to point we couldn't even reuse the case.

 

[norton64]

Re: motor locked up?

I took the lower unit off, and the prop turns, but the drive shaft wont. How do I get the drive shaft out of the unit? what is the screw on the side, by the vent?

 

[aeronutt29]

Re: motor locked up?

I hate to make a recomendation like this on a "self-help" board, but I think it's time to take it to a professional. And just so you'll have a day or two to arrange a second mortgage: It's NOT going to be cheap!<br /><br />Contrary to previous posts that are looking for powerhead problems, I believe you've managed to melt down the bearings in the lower unit to the point where they and the parts they are supposed to protect are beyond salvaging. Your lower unit housing is probably still OK, but several pieces of precision machined steel are no longer useable and must be replaced and adjusted with shims. The boat repair shop of your choice will be using some special tools that you aren't likely to own. If it's beyond repair, they will be able to tell you that as well. <br /><br />If you don't mind scrounging, your cheapest option may be to just start looking for a new lower unit. And this time make sure it doesn't have bad oil seals.

 

[butlp]

Re: motor locked up?

Norton,<br />With the lower unit removed does the motor turn over ok. It would not be good to spend a bunch of money on a new lower unit only to find the power head is bad too. In that case you should start to look for another outboard.<br />If it is only the lower unit you may want to take a look on e-bay, it may be cheaper than rebuilding. There are two rebuilt units on sale right now, search for "johnson evinrude lower unit"<br />Peter

 

[Reel Appeal]

Re: motor locked up?

Norton,<br /> Do this.Remove the lower unit from the motor completely first.After this,try turning the flywheel(powerhead) by hand.If it turns ok,take in the lower unit for rebuilding or find new.If the powerhead won't turn at all.... Bad news Good luck....

 

[norton64]

Re: motor locked up?

Oh yeah, the top end turns over good. I guess I will start looking for some one to look at the lower unit, or find a different one. Thank you all for your help.