Now What? Bigger Problems Merc '86 200 hp Advice??

fishfetchr

Cadet
Joined
Sep 15, 2006
Messages
24
Hello Again- I have posted to get some recent help here and thanks to all who chimed in. Here goes (next chapter):
I broke down due to what I thought was a throttle control box failure ( the arm became loose and wouldn't respond) so I got a new one ( teleflex / morse SL-3 type) installed it, and after seemingly getting it to work, except for that it wouldn't shift the motor into gear, even though the control felt right and seemed to click "in" nothing happened, if I went further, it just accelerated, but never into gear (4ward or reverse) while playing with that, the over heat alarm came on, I saw no stream from the telltale and shut her down. OK. Next mission- whats up with the water / overheat? Posted on here- found out how to do the Thermostats ( you people were great!) since I was told it could simply be those- changed em, ran with t-stat housings open and NO WATER stream ( or anywhere upstairs)- OK I guess my problem is "downstairs" in the lower unit- thinking my worse case would be a new impeller / water pump (replaced this spring) I speak to an area mechanic who immediately is suspiciously thinking the 2 issues are linked. He asked if I overheated coming home after loosing the throttle and I didn't , AND it took me 2 1/2 hours to get in that day after messing around with the throttle and managing to get it to engage into forward gear and I crawled home at 2-4 kts. I honestly didnt notice the pee stream as I just was concerned with getting her home. He seems to think I may have broken a gear shaft or something in the L-unit. He told me to unhook the shift cable at the new control and go to the motor and manually engage it and see what happens, I did- no response, forward or reverse. I asked him about a ballpark figure on repair and he told me around $800-900. Any takes on all this?? Would this be just a shaft replaced or a "rebuild" of my Lower? I'm up the creek w/out a motor.
He said the water pump would be affected by the damage in the L-unit etc etc. I'm not sure what to do here. Sorry for the lengthy post here but I figured the whole story would make it easier for a replying reader to possibly offer some advice or understand what may have happened here.
Thanks For Your Time!
Mario
 

WillyBWright

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
8,200
Re: Now What? Bigger Problems Merc '86 200 hp Advice??

Overheat plus no shift would mean the driveshaft snapped. Yank the gearcase off. It could also be a combination of a fried water pump and gearcase. See what you have for gearlube and get back to us. Also, give the prop a spin in Neutral motor off and see if the end of the propshaft wobbles.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Now What? Bigger Problems Merc '86 200 hp Advice??

As for disconnecting cables, do it at the engine. Its a heck of a lot easier doing it there than at the control box. You didn't have them switched by any chance? Shift cable moves first, then the throttle when the lever is moved.
 

fishfetchr

Cadet
Joined
Sep 15, 2006
Messages
24
Re: Now What? Bigger Problems Merc '86 200 hp Advice??

Thanks for the replies Willie & Silver.
Willie-I don't have a trailer and the boat is in a slip, so I was really wondering if that estimate was in the park. It'll have to get hauled to see the actual problem.
Silver- I don't believe theyre hooked up backwards as I went by the manual, and besides, when I fininshed hooking up the new control, when I went forward the handle itself clicked into forward, but no actual gearshift, and as I went further 4ward it gave the motor gas. Besides the engine should've went into gear when I tried it at the motor right?
Thanks Again.
Mario
 
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