rs2k
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2008
- Messages
- 486
The starboard stringer went out on my twin engine cabin cruiser today. It is an OMC 260HP 800 full mechanical shift stringer. I was cruising along at 2900 RPM heading back to the dock when all of a sudden (and instantly) the starboard engine started to over rev. I quickly took both engines to idle to have a look. There was no prop damage and I was in deep water at the time. I do not believe anything hit the prop. The only clue as to something being wrong with this out drive was I when I drained the oil earlier this year there was evidence of water contamination. I believe this was due to a loose oil plug as this problem has not showed up since. Other than that, the out drive had not had any problems at all and shifted beautifully. It was my starboard out drive that had a bit of a shifting problem... Why couldn't have that one broke instead? 
The starboard engine's prop would not spin in forward or reverse and there was a deep rattling noise coming from the out drive whether or not the out drive was in or out of gear. I do not hear any other noises or change in noises when trying to shift the engine and I noticed it was slightly more difficult to shift the out drive. It felt like the engine wasn't running when trying to shift it.
When I turn the prop and prop shaft by hand it turns smoothly and without any resistance. When I turn the prop back and forth I do not feel any gear slop like I did when everything worked. Before when I turned the prop back and forth I would feel a slight gear slop.
What's the most likely component damaged? The low end or top end? What part in that component is most likely damaged?
I will be pulling the boat out of the water tomorrow to start dis-assembly of the drive.
I'm glad I had a second engine to get me back home or I'd still be back out at the lake waiting for help.
The starboard engine's prop would not spin in forward or reverse and there was a deep rattling noise coming from the out drive whether or not the out drive was in or out of gear. I do not hear any other noises or change in noises when trying to shift the engine and I noticed it was slightly more difficult to shift the out drive. It felt like the engine wasn't running when trying to shift it.
When I turn the prop and prop shaft by hand it turns smoothly and without any resistance. When I turn the prop back and forth I do not feel any gear slop like I did when everything worked. Before when I turned the prop back and forth I would feel a slight gear slop.
What's the most likely component damaged? The low end or top end? What part in that component is most likely damaged?
I will be pulling the boat out of the water tomorrow to start dis-assembly of the drive.
I'm glad I had a second engine to get me back home or I'd still be back out at the lake waiting for help.
