Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

[PitchFork]

Alpha 1 Gen 1 1979 GM 350 4bbl

I was running across the water at 35MPH and the boat died for a second and continued on for 5 seconds and then dead in the water. The boat was still running but would not go into gear. No noise when trying to put into gear. Also the temp rose to 190?. No water in lines. It's like the lower drive shaft is not turning in which turning the impellar.

I never smelled burning rubber which I think it tells me that the coupler is fine.

Any ideas? What tool do I need to pull the top off to get to the upper gears? How hard to change upper gears?

PF

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Alpha 1 Gen 1 1979 GM 350 4bbl

I was running across the water at 35MPH and the boat died for a second and continued on for 5 seconds and then dead in the water. The boat was still running but would not go into gear. No noise when trying to put into gear. Also the temp rose to 190?. No water in lines. It's like the lower drive shaft is not turning in which turning the impellar.

I never smelled burning rubber which I think it tells me that the coupler is fine.

Any ideas? What tool do I need to pull the top off to get to the upper gears? How hard to change upper gears?

PF

Howdy,


The coupler has 2 failure modes. Rubber "dough-nut" failure and inner spline failure.

When mine failed, it "slipped" a couple of times than nothing. I didn't run the engine long enough for it to over heat.

When I looked into the coupler (after pulling the drive) it appeared that someone had "drilled" out the inner splines!!

If your drive shaft is NOT turning, the coupler HAS failed. If you see no rubber powder, it's the inner (aluminum) splines that have failed. (the shaft is steel)


In either case, you'll be pulling the drive and engine (in that order) to replace.



Regards,


Rick

 

[Bondo]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Any ideas?

Ayuh,... Pull the drive...
If the Problem isn't apparent to ya,...
Split the drive...
If that doesn't uncover the Problem,....
A 12pt socket will be the tool to pull the top cap...

A Replacement drive is the cure for Bad top gears....
If the vertical shaft in the lower broke, you'll be able to just buy a new Lower...

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

I pulled the drive and coupler looked fine so I popped the top and found gears in bad shape completely stripped the top most gear had really bad rolled edges and the bottom one was smooth with no teeth. The gear lube had about 3 tablespoons of water in it and was at 100 hours.

Would to do now? I am guessing the gears cannot be replaced then? Do I just get a used upper or do I buy a complete outdrive?

How do I identify the ratio? I do not have a serial on the drive or engine.

PF

 

[Bondo]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Ayuh,... The remains of the Upper, is now well distributed through-out the Lower...

Buy a New drive,... It's W A Y Cheaper than fixin' your's.....

You need the 1.50:1,...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

A new SEI drive would be the ticket for me

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Thanks guys looks like a new SE106 complete drive for me. I guess I can save $100 as I was going to buy a skeggard this winter as my skeg is worn down.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

I guess I can save $100 as I was going to buy a skeggard this winter as my skeg is worn down.

Well, there ya go! The news just keeps getting better!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Does it look like this one caused by lack of oil

may want to check the case to see if the lower edges of the teeth cut thru the upper case.
SEI highly recommended

 

[sethjon]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Does it look like this one caused by lack of oil

may want to check the case to see if the lower edges of the teeth cut thru the upper case.
SEI highly recommended

Looks like the gears weren't completed meshed together. If I am right its possible the cable wasn't adjusted properly and caused this. If there was a serious lack of oil the gears would have been shot a lot sooner.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

If I am right its possible the cable wasn't adjusted properly and caused this

nope

the shifting is done in the lower half of the drive

that is the driven gear on the upper drive shaft in the photo

that was most definitely caused by lack of lube

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Seen a few upper gear sets that look like that.
Lack of gear lube....

In the 100 hours has the drive ever been serviced? Not that it matters now..

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Alpha 1 Gen 1 1979 GM 350 4bbl

I was running across the water at 35MPH and the boat died for a second and continued on for 5 seconds and then dead in the water. The boat was still running but would not go into gear. No noise when trying to put into gear. Also the temp rose to 190?. No water in lines. It's like the lower drive shaft is not turning in which turning the impellar.

I never smelled burning rubber which I think it tells me that the coupler is fine.

Any ideas? What tool do I need to pull the top off to get to the upper gears? How hard to change upper gears?

PF

You know.....I didn't ask before......did you or someone else change the drive oil recently? (or EVER?)

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

You know.....I didn't ask before......did you or someone else change the drive oil recently? (or EVER?)

Yes I serviced it last fall. Changed the fluid topped off until pouring out the top and aligned the drive. It has 105 hours on the drive this season since last fluid change. I guess 100 hours is drop dead oil change interval or I had a leak somewhere.

I have looked at a few used units today but I do not see spending $800+ on a used drive that I do not know the history on so SEI probably will be getting an order from me next week.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Yes I serviced it last fall. Changed the fluid topped off until pouring out the top and aligned the drive. It has 105 hours on the drive this season since last fluid change. I guess 100 hours is drop dead oil change interval or I had a leak somewhere.

I have looked at a few used units today but I do not see spending $800+ on a used drive that I do not know the history on so SEI probably will be getting an order from me next week.

After you filled it (from the bottom I hope) and ran it a bit, did you fill it a little more after it sat? (so the bubbles could rise to the top)


Upper gears usually fail from oil starvation...

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

you had water in the gear lube... you had a leak and the water was the problem...

I would second the "buy a new replacement sei drive"...

 

[Divecaptchris]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

That SEI drive is the way to go! I love that 3 year warranty! Had mine for almost 3 years now!

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

SE106 will be ordered tomorrow just not sure who to order it from. From SEI direct is 1195 + 65 shipping or should I order it from someone on eBay for 1195 free shipping? Any thoughts?

Also in the bellhousing where the shift cable comes in it looks like water is coming in from here. How is this fixed? Replace Shift Cable replace an o-ring?? I am not having any problems with shifting.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

Did you check prices here on iboats?

If water is coming in the boat from the shift cable area, then the shift bellows is bad.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Problem with Coupler or Upper Gears Had to be towed

I'm not sure where you are describing the water coming in, but it may be worth your time to replace the shift shaft bushings while you are working on things. It's the brass bushings pictured here: (When they go bad, they can allow water to get into the shift cavity).