outdrive "cutting out"

[rsergent]

I have an '88 Carver Santego, twin mercs. I recently had it moved from one marina to another. The harbormaster from the new marina motored it over(about 8 miles). He called me from the bridge and informed that my starboard outdrive "cut out" at around 2200 rpms. He described it like a "clutch", says there are two such in an outdrive, upper and lower. Told me it needed repair.
First, this was not noted by me when I winterized it--but I had the boat for only a few weeks.
Second, If I ran it as is, would I be in danger of catastrophic damage?

Third, if the boat were pulled and the problem exists, just what has to be done and how much?
My first post--thanks for any help I can get.

 

[Don S]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I have no idea what kind of "Clutch" feeling he had. But if it was sudden high rpm and no gain in speed like a "SLIPPING" clutch, then it could be a spun prop hub or a bad engine to drive coupler. The rubber hubs in each slip with high loads, but seem fine at idle and slow speeds. Something you wouldn't notice during a winterization.

As with any machine, they don't heal. If there is a problem, they either stay as they are or get worse. With boats it's normally the latter, and includes many extra $$$$.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Need some more info. What engines and drives. Do you have serial numbers? Is it inboard or I/O?

 

[Don S]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

EDIT:
Not sure how or why I added this post with only a quote....
It's gone now.

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Welcome Aboard to the forums here at iboats, rsergent.....

By the Tone of your post,.... I'm assuming that You personally Aren't the "Fix It Yourself" kinda Guy.....

That said,......
The Only Test I know of is, to Swap the Prop with a Known Good Prop,+ Try It.......

If something Still Slips,......
The Odds Are,... The Coupler is Shot.....

That'll mean the Motor will Have to be Pulled for Replacement of the Coupler.....
Or,.......
There's a Major Internal Issue with the Drive itself......

 

[rsergent]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Well, those were impressive and helpful. As I said, I am a new poster so the reason for the lag between your quick response and my slow response was in learning how this site operates. (Some send emails when a member has responded)
The coupler is exactly what the harbormaster mentioned.
He said there was an upper and a lower. The lower was not as big a job as the upper.
Can any of you make a "guesstimate" as to a reasonable charge for removing lower unit and replacing coupler? You are correct--I will not be doing this myself. As a result, am willing to pay fair price, but do not want to get ripped.
Thanks guys.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

You have to remove the drive AND the engine to replace the coupler. And there is no "upper and lower" coupler. The "lower" problem could the prop, or something within the drive itself.

Cost? I have no idea - others can chime in on that.

Good luck!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Do what Bondo said with the prop.....
If it still does it with a prop that is known to be good.....
The outdrive has upper & lower gearcases.....
But no coupler......
Did it overheat?
That would be an indication of a bad engine coupler.....
My guess would be eight hours or so depending on the way the engine sits in the boat......
A coupler is about 200-300 bucks.....
If the drive itself is bad, there are after market drives out there for about $1200.......
An hour or so for labor on that......
Hope this helps....

 

[rsergent]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

The engine has never overheated--I guess that is something good.
By checking the prop--you mean to check if it is "slipping"? I know the prop is known to be good.
If it is of any help--I had the drives serviced(routine lower unit maintenance) just last September.

Would you suggest it to be less money in the long run to purchase an after market drive rather than have service people grope around. Or is this something that can be readily determined by a water test--with a mechanic on board who knows what he is doing?
This has been of great assistance to me. Thanks guys

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

By checking the prop--you mean to check if it is "slipping"?

Ayuh,.... The Usual Test is to pull the Prop,+ Scribe a Line across the Hub,+ Body of the prop,+ Run it,.....
If you induce Slippage,....
Pull the prop,.. If the Line is no longer indexed to itself,...
The Prop Hub is Shot,+ needs replacing.....
IF the line IS in fact Still Indexed,.....
It's Probably the Engine Coupler that's Slipping,+ Needs Replacing...........
The Engine Coupler will only cause Overheating if it's allowed to run in a Slipping condition,.... Backing off the throttle,+ Stopping the Slip will allow Cooling......

Would you suggest it to be less money in the long run to purchase an after market drive rather than have service people grope around.

Only if it's determined that you've Blown a Gearset, or Bearing...........
The Lower unit,+ the Upper unit both Share the same Oil,...... If 1 Pukes, it Spews metal fragments Thoughout the Drive........

The Co$t of Rebuilding, Resealing,+ Reassembling a Blown Drive is Usually More than the price of an Aftermarket Replacement...........

 

[QC]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I know the prop is known to be good.

How do you "know"? Even a new one could go bad . . . This is the cheapest thing to test.

 

[rsergent]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Thanks. My intention is to run it, see if it overheats. If it does not, and "slips" when I push the throttle, I will have prop checked.

Does that sound like a plan?

 

[QC]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Can you reach the props with the drives up? If so I'd mark the prop hub as Bondo mentrioned. I am concerned as It may have to slip for a few minutes to actually overheat. Make sure they are all the way warmed up before you test as that will insure a quicker overheat indication . . .

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Thanks. My intention is to run it, see if it overheats. If it does not, and "slips" when I push the throttle, I will have prop checked.

Does that sound like a plan?

Ayuh,........ That'll get you headed in the Right Direction............


Btw,....... Thanks for the Compliment,...... d
I didn't even know that iboats Has such a feature.............

 

[QC]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

Btw,....... Thanks for the Compliment,...... d
I didn't even know that iboats Has such a feature.............

Yeah. Either nobody likes anything anybody says, or rsergent is more observant than anybody else 8)

 

[rsergent]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I don't get why "nobody likes anything anybody says"--I don't like what the effect of what is sometimes said(ie, I have to spend a lot of money), but I sure do enjoy reading what you admirals know and are willing to share.

I was in Ketchican this summer--one of you is from there I notice.

 

[rsergent]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I misspelled Ketichkan--sorry, fleet admiral

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I was in Ketchican this summer--one of you is from there I notice.

Ayuh,....... That's Don,.... He said he was taking a week away somewhere the other day,......

I sure Hope he's having a Great Time,..... Wherever he is......

I don't get why "nobody likes anything anybody says"

That happens now,+ then when a question is posed, usually about a boat purchase that's About to happen,.....
And, Try as We might to convince the Poster than it's the Wrong Boat,..........

Well,..... You See where it goes...... d

They Usually crawl back, asking how to Fix the things explained earlier....
And We tell them How it's Done...................

 

[rsergent]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I wish I had known of this forum and you guys earlier.
This Carver I bought seems to have come with some needed repairs, some minor, others major.
Any opinion on Carvers? Mine is almost 20 years old, which I originally did not believe was much of a liability.

 

[Bondo]

Re: outdrive

Re: outdrive

I wish I had known of this forum and you guys earlier.
This Carver I bought seems to have come with some needed repairs, some minor, others major.
Any opinion on Carvers? Mine is almost 20 years old, which I originally did not believe was much of a liability.

RS,.....

We're in the I/O, Engines forum,......

You'll get More,+ Better responces by posting Questions about the Boat in general,......
In the Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics) Forum.......