Slipping out of gear?

[Soundslikefun]

Ok, 1960 75 hp Evinrude, starts great, runs good, idles good. Here is my problem. Occasionally while driving it slips out of gear (or feels like it) for just a split second and then keep going. Sometimes it happens several tiles a day, sometimes not at all.

Any ideas what this could be? I know nothing about boats but am handy, so i'd like to repair it myself if possible.

Also, I have some greasy grey liquid leaking from
a small hole near the top screw on my lower unit. Normal, or is there likely water in my lube?

 

[Rick.]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

When it slips out of gear and the back again does it clunk loudly, as though you hit something submerged with the leg? It is possible also that your prop is spun on it;s hub although I would think that would slip consistently not just sometimes. Rick.

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

When it slips out of gear and the back again does it clunk loudly, as though you hit something submerged with the leg? It is possible also that your prop is spun on it;s hub although I would think that would slip consistently not just sometimes. Rick.

That is exactly what it sounds like. I'm not sure what spun on the hub means, but i've used it every day of the last two weeks, and can go days without it happening. It is a huge jolt and noise when it happens though.

 

[Rick.]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

Well that's the shift dog in your gear case then. Have you recently had the leg off ( just prior to this slipping happening)? If yes it may be a simple adjustment of your shift rod to fix it. If no you probably need to open up the gear case and have a look at things. Rick.

 

[mars bar]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

Spun on the hub refers to the rubber insert in your prop slipping.

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

Well that's the shift dog in your gear case then. Have you recently had the leg off ( just prior to this slipping happening)? If yes it may be a simple adjustment of your shift rod to fix it. If no you probably need to open up the gear case and have a look at things. Rick.

I just had the gears and everything in the lower unit replaced. The guy that did the work thinks it's something he referred to as the linkage and adjusting it would not involve taking apart the lower unit. Does this sound likely? With the milky stuff weeping from my lower unit i'd like him to take another peek in there anyway.

I'm tempted to take things apart myself, but afraid to make things worse. I'm sure it's a reasonably simple adjustment. Outside of this issue, and the extreme gas use, this thing is running great.

 

[Rick.]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

He is very likely to be correct. The shift linkage can get out of adjustment when the leg has been removed. Don't take it apart yourself take it back to him for adjustment. Rick.

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

Thanks Rick. I'll likely take it back this weekend.

Any opinions on the milky gray stuff dripping from my LU?

 

[grady white sailfish]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

If I Had To Guess I Would It Is Water In Your Lube.

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: Slipping out of gear?

The guy who has done all the work for me so far on this motor pretty much told me he had no interest in trying to fix the problem.

Anyone know a good place to have work done on old motors in the Twin Cities area?