Now I have problems

[billfishfla]

I have a 70 hp johnson My id was capebill but for some reason I cant log in with that one si I changed it<br /><br />I thought I had spun a hub -- now the mechanic tells me there is something else wrong and that it will cost me $2000.00 he says "there is metal on driveshaft splines - appears to be from crankshaft - need to remove power head"<br /><br />my questions is these<br /><br />How and Why could this happen ?<br /><br />could it be a defect ?<br /><br />I am so upset I cant see straight -<br /><br />I Have had nothing but problems with this engine - 2000 70 hp johnson ser # 04806439<br />since the day I bought it<br /><br />and have put over 2000.00 into it already<br /><br />johnson has reimbursed me JUST $239.00 out of that

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Now I have problems

Are you saying the crank and driveshaft splines are worn to the point they wont turn the driveshaft?

 

[billfishfla]

Re: Now I have problems

last week the prop stopped turning> I had a soft grounding the engine did not stall - ( and I thought it was a spun hub - the mechanic now tells me exactly what I wrote in the first message "there is metal on driveshaft splines - appears to be from crankshaft - need to remove power head"<br /><br />I am almost crying,<br /><br />I am so dissatisfied with Johnson and there customer service<br /><br />tHEY DONT EVEN LIST EMAIL ADDRESSES - That should tell you something<br /><br />I have their phone number but am afraid to call because I know they will say<br /><br />"Hey you should have bought the extended warranty" -- ( which they were not offering when I purchased my engine because of the bankruptcy )<br /><br />when I told them that they did not offer it through my dealer they said "OH WELL"<br /><br />If I had an engine to run my boay I think I would take that Johnson lemon out into the gulf and throw it overboard

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Now I have problems

I understand your frustration but if we are to help we need to know whats wrong. Is the mechanic saying the splines are stripped? Or is he saying the hub was spun but there is also metal on the driveshaft but the splines are still serviceable?<br /><br />When the prop quit turning did the motor still pump water?

 

[ob]

Re: Now I have problems

Can we assume that the mechanic removed the lower unit and saw this damage first hand?if so, you need to have a look at it yourself and confirm.I personally have never seen a driveshaft wipe on such a new engine.

 

[billfishfla]

Re: Now I have problems

this is the note the mechanic wrote me <br /><br />"there is metal on driveshaft splines - appears to be from crankshaft - need to remove power head"<br /><br />I was so upset wehen he told me $2000.00 that I think I lost my hearing<br /><br />I think he said the prop was NOT spun.<br /><br />Another question Cant a mechanic tell if a prop is spun --- they sent it out. <br /><br />These guys are really the only mechanics in the immediate area <br /><br />I am not sure but I think it was still pumping water<br /><br />The pump has not been changed yet ( it is under three years old ) but that was scheduled along with this work<br /><br />I will look at it<br />BUT<br />I will have no idea what I will be looking at<br /><br />I guess I must wait until he calls me

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Now I have problems

Bill, What you are looking for is a water stream from the tell-tale ( at the rear of the motor) . This will confirm a spun drive shaft. The crankshaft turns the drive shaft (this connection is where the splines in question are), the drive shaft turns the water pump impeller at the same time. If it's pumping water then the splines are intact. Be sure you run the motor in water. Don't rev the motor too much either, you don't have the prop installed. If the crank splines are truly stripped it won't be pumping water and it won't take very much time to overheat the motor. The only way to know for sure what you're up against is to drop the lower unit and inspect the top of the drive shaft yourself. I wouldn't get too excited until I knew for sure.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Now I have problems

Ditto!<br /><br />Thank you Xcusme!

 

[DJ]

Re: Now I have problems

bill,<br /><br />I do not know why you cannot log in on your old name. However, I do remember that you were trashing Johnson pretty hard.<br /><br />What you are not saying here is that you hit something pretty hard. That is important to know.<br /><br />As I recall, your "grounding" happened more than once.<br /><br />Hitting a submerged object can cause the problems you seem to be having. The shock apperantly went right up through the drive system to the powerhead. Not unusual.<br /><br />That is not the engines fault. I would call it an accident.<br /><br />You may want to be talking to your insurance company. Most cover accidental underwater strikes.

 

[ob]

Re: Now I have problems

Djohns, Your info of the engine previously running ground or striking underwater object enlightens this topic and indeed makes a driveshaft problem understandable.Thanks for the heads up.

 

[billfishfla]

Re: Now I have problems

if you were there you would know what I meant <br /><br />when I grounded I drifted into shallows <br /><br />with the motor raised partially<br />it did not touch bottom and never stopped or even made an indication it was fouled<br /><br />I pushed off put the motor down and as I started to accelerate it just stopped pushing ( the boat is NOT a speed boat - a 28 ft pontoon ) and the 70 is the recommended engine for it<br /><br />As stated in previous posts I have had nothing BUT trouble with this engine <br /><br />had to rebuild the carbs when it was only 2 month old - and with only 5 hours on the engine<br /><br />Had to replace a vro pump ( said it had a hole in the diaphram )<br /><br />had to replace the steering cables ( said they corroded ) - the boat has never sat longer than 1 week without at least a short jaunt<br /><br />developed a fuel line leak <br /><br />Johnson IS JUNK in my opinion<br /><br />I dont abuse the boat - but it sure has abused me and all johnson says IS "OH WELL"<br /><br />Thats great customer relations

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Now I have problems

Are you running a Stainless steel prop?<br /><br />If so..its possible you hit a dead head...ie..half submerged log..or something solid. The prop may show NO damage at all...you may not have even heard a noise. But something stopped the prop..this sheared the drive shaft splines off.<br /><br />TMD

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Now I have problems

Does it still pump water???????

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Now I have problems

Bill, you need to keep irrelevant stuff out of the thread. i.e. the problem with the steering cables ... has absolutely nothing to do with the motor issues and wasn't supplied by Johnson. It's only connected to the motor.

 

[billfishfla]

Re: Now I have problems

Doc <br /><br />No the prop is aluminum<br /><br />And I stated I think it is <br />still pumping water <br /><br />It was when I started the engine ( I always check that ) <br /><br />and I was not going fast = I would say no more than 4 knots - I had just pulled away from a beach - the depth finders - both said I had 4 to 6 feet of water under me. This area is NOT known for drift wood <br /> It is a lighthouse point on the tip of sanibel island FL ( YBEL POINT )<br /><br />That does not mean there couldnt be any BUT highly unlikely<br /><br />I have two depth finders ( one on front and one on rear ) because my boat is long and I do a lot of shallows fishing<br /><br />But I dont have ready access to the engine Its in the shop <br /><br />I wish people would answer the questions instead of offering a critique of my postings I can get that from MY <br />publisher ) That is a bigger offense than putting something extra into a post to inform others that you have had problems ( that YOU did NOT cause )<br />That is the good thing about the web you can easily choose and see if you are getting advice or some B.S.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Now I have problems

We are trying to answer your question but we need more info. <br /><br />If the motor still pumps water the splines are not stripped. <br /><br />If it pumps water and the hub in the prop is good then the disconnect is below the water pump but in front of the prop.<br /><br />What is it they want to do for 2000.00?

 

[ob]

Re: Now I have problems

If the mechanic working on the motor has already torn down the lower unit and is working on your problem ,there is not much anyone here can do but speculate.Should have posted problem before arranging repair work.The fact that you state that you only think it's still pumping water doesn't tell us much.And since the lower unit is obviously been pulled and your mechanic is telling you of driveshaft damage and $2000 dollars for repair,the only thing that we really can provide is a shoulder to cry on.If you are behaving as short tempered and condescending to the mechanic as you have to the people on this forum that are here to help you at no charge,He will likely find more things wrong with the engine to charge you for.Good luck.

 

[billfishfla]

Re: Now I have problems

If thats the way they operate IN Corpus Christi TEXASS I am glad I dont live there<br /><br />I will wait until the mech gets done inspecting the engine <br /><br />have him fix it -<br /><br />then send the parts to Johnson for them to look at --

 

[ob]

Re: Now I have problems

If what is the way they operate in Corpus? Not agreeing with you and bashing Johnson motors because you ran ground and can't admit that it could be causing your problem.?Driveshafts and prop hubs don't just mysteriously fail.There is usually a cause and effect.If you don't have the juevos to look at the damaged driveshaft first hand and voice your findings back to this thread I don't see what asssistance we can be in analyzing your engine problem.

 

[billfishfla]

Re: Now I have problems

OB <br /><br />I did not run aground<br /><br />read the posts <br /><br />I grounded myself intentionally with the motor raised --- <br /><br />Get a life