Rotational play in the prop while in gear?

[67'Charger]

1975 Evinrude 135

How much free-rotation should there be at the prop with the engine off and in gear. I can turn the prop-shaft 80? with no resistance. At either end of the free-play, it engages solidly and i can turn the engine over with the prop (using a fair bit of effort). It just seems like an awful lot of slack to me...

Last time I had the boat out I had a mis-adjusted shift linkage that caused it to repeatedly pop out of gear under a load. I had to drive it for about a mile to get back to the dock.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Rotational play in the prop while in gear?

The mechanical hook-up is made through the use of a clutch dog. The play you feel is between the engagement suface of the dog, and gear, and is normal

 

[F_R]

Re: Rotational play in the prop while in gear?

Consider this: When the motor is running in neutral, there are two gears spinning at high speed in opposite directions. Sliding a clutch dog into those gears is what gives you forward or reverse. As you go to slide the dog toward the gear, the dog is stationary and the gear is spinning. In other words, the dog has to catch the gear on the run. So.o.o.o., they give it as much open space as possible so the dog can get in there with a minimum of clatter and banging around--which equals wear. 80 degrees is a perfectly normal amount of space. It would be better if it were much more than that, but that's impossible.

A whole bunch of words to say relax, it isn't broken.

 

[67'Charger]

Re: Rotational play in the prop while in gear?

Thank you... I feel much better about it now.