OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Phantom17

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
343
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

ouch, could you imagine after all you have done to it having it be prop slippage! <br /><br />I worked mine around last night because after a while I lost reverse completely unless the drive is off the boat. (thats weird eh?) Anyway, I am going to try to run it in the water today just to see if I resolved the bump issue, but I seriously doubt it. <br /><br />Mine only did this forward too, (hence my doubt of points) and only at rpm over 1000. In the beginning it did it only at low rpm, now the morw rpm you give it, the more it does it. It's as fast as a air popcorn popper above 1500, skips all over the place. I wonder if my shifter just wasn't fully engaging. Boomer put out the name and number of a tech in Wa state somethime in July. <br /><br />I hope you resolve your situation. Mine is for sale. I won't put money into that drive, had I known before, I'd have passed on the boat. Some of these guys have had theirs for many many years, but when it's new to you, and your not sure whats been / has not been done it's tough. Not that that doesn't hapen with anything you buy, but the cost, lack and reliability don't seem to be worth it.
 

supercab78

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Messages
158
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

have you tried a differnt coil yet? It could be that it's breaking down under a load on engine.
 

SeaMasterZ@aol.com

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
1,924
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Holy Shotgun technique batman!<br /><br />get you a manual and run down the troubleshooter list<br /><br />btw, properly set points should be right on in regard to dwell, bump the starter (coil pulled!) til the points ride up on the cam and open, set em to whatever the specs call for<br /><br />good to go!
 

liner85

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
32
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

My money is still on the clutch jumping the forward gear, either due to wear or improper adjustment. The symptoms described fit this condition perfectly, but I'm not sure why no metal shavings were found... maybe the gear oil was recently changed? Oak Cove- I don't want to sound condescending (especially since I'm an amateur, at best), but when you had the lower unit apart are you SURE the clutch and gear were not worn? Also, have you verified that the current shift adjustments permit full engagement of the clutch and gear? This really sounds like a clutch/gear issue to me.
 

Phantom17

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
343
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Funny, when I had this problem I thought clutch too. Feels like a clutch slipped for a fraction of a second. It's hard when you try to describe the problem, vs seeing/feeling/hearing it. Have you tried the points and coil yet? I have not either, but I am curious if it solves your problem. I have no reverse so I am convinced it's not my points.
 

Phantom17

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
343
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Anyone have a use for a good inline 4, 2.5 with decent upper (needs seals) and a free bad lower? email me mnehky@yahoo.com. The boat goes with it, and it is in very good condition. trailer is strong and good, but not a good looking one.
 

whywhyzed

Banned
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,871
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

ahhh jeez.. i wish you were closer.. My upper gears are gone on my 2.5<br />Are you sure you don't want to buy a lower- cheap... I'm thinking of hanging an electric drive that I got really cheap on the back of mine and just converting to elec. controls...
 

whywhyzed

Banned
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Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,871
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

email sent...<br /><br />I hope Oak Cove comes back with an update...<br /><br />spline at the ball gear? It's a weird spline there.. doubt it would survive a slip, but maybe<br /><br />the "no change in rpm's" makes me agree with others it's ignition.<br />If you took the drive out of gear, under load, the engine would overrev by a 1000rpm in a fraction of a second...
 

Phantom17

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Feb 7, 2005
Messages
343
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

The engine would pick up that much rpm in a fraction of a second under load?!?!?!?!?! Is that fact or opinion? Or do you mean that the engine would pick up 1000 rpm if it slipped a gear (hence, put in neutral), but then it would probably shatter the gears coming back in under that high a speed, or eat them away real quick I would think. I'm interested in if this is true or not. <br /><br /><br />btw, I sent you a reply, let me know what you think when you get a minute.-Jeff
 

whywhyzed

Banned
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,871
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Originally posted by jh19:<br /> Or do you mean that the engine would pick up 1000 rpm if it slipped a gear (hence, put in neutral),
that's what I'm getting at.<br /><br />The Cobra I had years ago jumped twice under load and one more time just trying to start going and the gears were done like dinner so good point about the damage upon re-engagement
 

Phantom17

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
343
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

OK, that makes sense. Still trying to figure this boat stuff out.
 

liner85

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
32
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I have to respectfully disagree with hystat and others who contend that the RPM's necessarily will overrev in the event of “skipping” a gear. I don't dispute that it can happen, but I have personally experienced the contrary with three different motors (albeit outboards). <br /><br />In the case of the merc 115 mentioned above, the teeth between the clutch dog and forward gear were rounded (sorry to repeat myself), permitting a momentary “skip” under load. As I said before, it happened so fast (probably only skipped one or two teeth at a time) that there was no detectable increase in RPM. The event manifested itself with a loud “BAM”, much like striking an underwater object.<br /><br />I have experienced the same thing with two other outboards (an old 75hp Johnson, and an old 75hp Flying Scott) except that the shift linkages were to blame, instead of rounded gear teeth. The linkages did not permit full engagement of the clutch dog and forward gear. The symptom was the same: a loud “BAM”, like striking a submerged object, with no detectable RPM increase. <br /><br />I really think this is what Oak Cove is experiencing...<br /><br />
Originally posted by Oak Cove Resort:<br />...no change in RPM, neither increase nor decrease. It really feels like the drive has hit something.
I think an RPM increase would occur with skipping of multiple gear teeth (likely to trash the gears much quicker) or a slipping condition (i.e. spun prop hub, bad coupler, cavitation, etc…).
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: OMC 400 Series Outdrive

Well, based on his last post... a week ago... he claims to have had the drive apart and all parts looked good... according to him. No metal in the oil... according to him. Based upon that information, we can only guess at what his problem is. I still stand by my guess... based on what Oal Cove has previously reported. <br /><br />If the clutch dog is skipping, there would be evidence on the dog ears as well as metal particles in the oil.
 
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