SeaRay fell out of gear while in motion - now no forward or reverse?

[TurnerBFC]

While running at half throttle, my 20 foot SeaRay BR suddenly over-revved. I immediately shut-down the throttle and engine. I restarted the engine which ran OK, but neither the forward nor the reverse gear will engage now.

Has anyone had this experience, if so, what was the problem; how did you fix it?

Thanks in advance!!


Boat has 4.3L MerCruiser and I think an Alpha One drive. It is a 1992.

 

[nola mike]

When did you last check your gear oil? Catastrophic out drive failure (gears, driveshaft, etc), engine coupler, prop hub if you're lucky...
Try disconnecting the shift cable and shifting directly with the cable. If that works, may be a broken cable or something simple. Otherwise, you'll need to drain out drive oil or remove top cap to look at the upper gears. Also, if you can see the driveshaft behind the motor, see if it's turning - - it should turn whenever the engine is running. BTW, since you don't mention it, I'll assume you have a 3.7l 170 with a gen 1 alpha 1 drive, just like me.

 

[thumpar]

Pull the drive and check the coupler. If it still has splines pull the top cap off the drive and see what the gears look like.

 

[redneck joe]

do you still have a prop?

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard.

as many pointed out, could be as inoculous as a spun prop, or a damaging as broken gears in the upper.

start with checking the prop hub, oil level, etc. you will have to pull the drive and inspect the driveshaft and the coupler splines. if that is all good, pull the top cap.

 

[camalot]

I hope it is something simple like a spun prop......................................................but I would say it's the engine coupler stripped it's spines.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Did the engine overheat?
Could be a sign of a problem with the top of the outdrive........or the verticle drive shaft.
Need to pull the drive and start troubleshooting.

You could start by putting the boat in gear and see if the prop locks CCW in Fwd and CW in REV.
Obviously the engine should not be running!!!

 

[TurnerBFC]

Pull the drive and check the coupler. If it still has splines pull the top cap off the drive and see what the gears look like.

Thanks! I will for sure start doing these checks when I get to the boat this weekend. Its currently in the water, but I'm getting it pulled out so I can look it over. Is the top cap a 12-point socket?

 

[TurnerBFC]

I hope it is something simple like a spun prop......................................................but I would say it's the engine coupler stripped it's spines.

I hope it is the coupler rather than the gears! Thanks.

 

[TurnerBFC]

Did the engine overheat? Could be a sign of a problem with the top of the outdrive........or the verticle drive shaft. Need to pull the drive and start troubleshooting. You could start by putting the boat in gear and see if the prop locks CCW in Fwd and CW in REV. Obviously the engine should not be running!!!

The boat is in the water so I will do the quick check of the prop lock in fwd and rev. Then I will be pulling it out so I can look deeper into it. I will post back what I find after or during the upcoming weekend. Thanks for your input.

 

[nola mike]

I hope it is the coupler rather than the gears! Thanks.

Quicker fix if it's the gears. New sei drive (or used CL special) and you're on the water in an hour. Gotta pull the engine to replace the coupler. We still don't know what drive you got though. 92 could be gen 1 or 2.

 

[thumpar]

Thanks! I will for sure start doing these checks when I get to the boat this weekend. Its currently in the water, but I'm getting it pulled out so I can look it over. Is the top cap a 12-point socket?

Yes it is the 12 point.

 

[Alleykat0498]

Same thing happened to me last weekend, turned out to be a snapped vertical shaft just below the water pump housing. prop would lock into reverse and forward just no transfer of power. First time ive seen a unit fail and continue to pump water. Now Im concerned that the upper is contaminated and may need replaced as well.

Hoping yours just turns out to be a spun prop.

 

[TurnerBFC]

So I managed to test the outdrive today while it sits in the water. When I place the drive in FWD, it locks CCW and rathets CW. Neutral does what it should. Reverse, it lock both ways and when I spin it I seem to get a clunkin sound. The boat also appears to have jammed when I try to start it. Any advice??

 

[Fishermark]

...Any advice??

Yes - pull it out of the water and then remove the top cover. I suspect the problem will be evident. If not, pull the outdrive and report what you find.

 

[Fun Times]

The boat also appears to have jammed when I try to start it. Any advice??

As in the engine will not crank over? If so, when you pull the drive off, make sure the engine will crank over.

 

[TurnerBFC]

Well,

Turns out that when I got the boat home, I took off the top cap and noticed that my gears are completely shredded. There are metal shavings and no gears left - what is the way to fix this at a low cost?

New outdrive? New gears?

Thanks!

 

[Bt Doctur]

a new SEI 106 drive 1.84

 

[HT32BSX115]

...................gears are completely shredded. There are metal shavings and no gears left - what is the way to fix this at a low cost?

New outdrive? New gears?

Thanks!

Howdy,

No low cost way to fix it. It's a complete rebuild.

a new SEI 106 drive 1.84

Yup! It would much better to just buy an SEI drive with a 3 year warranty.

Sorry about that!


Rick

 

[TurnerBFC]

a new SEI 106 drive 1.84

Ok thanks