Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
I just bought a boat two days ago and took it out onto the lake... I made one lap and was showing my wife how to drive it becuase I wanted her to pull me skiing. I told in an emergency just pull up on the throttle quickly...when I demonstrated it the boat died. When I turned the key all ill get out of it is a quick "wrant" sound as if it turns over for a very very brief period....like the battery wasnt pushing enough amps to turn the motor over. The starter engages, the balancer turns about a half inch then freezes. I was thinking that maybe it got crossed in gear and now cant turn over....it also sounds like the motor locked up but it was running wide open just fine for about 2 minutes and the temp gauge stayed around 140 and water was circulating out the back when i left the dock...I was just kinda wondering if anyones heard of it getting crossed in both gears so it wont turn over or any help please....this has just become very frustrating as Ive found owning a boat can be
 

lrlima

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
223
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

you should post what type and year engine and drive you have as there are a lot of experts on this board that can help you. To me (not an expert) it sounds like the motor became hydrolocked by water coming back up through the exhaust.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

Pull the spark plugs and crank the engine over to see if there is water in the cylinders.
 

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

i am very sorry...i have never used a bulletin board...I shoulda known to be as specific as if im ordering parts....the boats a 1979 18 ft lund with mercruiser inline 4 cylinder 470 rated at 170 hp, i believe that'de make it a gm?(if anyone knows specifics of this motor like if it is gm and what interchanges with it let me know) it is a i/o with a mercruiser lower unit....when I bump the key it also makes the steering wheel jerk hard to the left (boat out of water). Dont know if that will help anyone out there....Im a complete boating rookie.... this is the first boat Ive ever owned and havent been around them for years.....


How do i tell if its hydrolocked and how do i fix it?
 

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

i have pulled the plugs and with them out it still doesnt turn...thats where i got a locked up notion from cuz with no compression when the plugs are outhould be able to turn the balancer with my 3/4 breaker bar and I cant....checked oil and it is also milky
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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62,321
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

4 cylinder 470 rated at 170 hp, i believe that'de make it a gm?
It's not a GM motor, it's a Mercruiser motor that Merc designed aluminum block with a Ford 460 head on it ....... It had many short comings.
I would pull the drive next, and see if it will turn over. If it does turn over, you have a drive problem, if it doesn't, you have an engine problem.
Is the oil level way over full, or just about right but milky? Have you lost coolant out of the heat exchanger?
 

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

oil level not way over full but the boat got launched by my brother, i was driving the truck he put the plug in and told me to back it in while i went and parked trailer...it took on water for about 20 minutes and i thought i bought a complete rip off so i pulled it out of the water and he had never put the plug in, i think that might be how the oil got milky not sure unless serious motor problems.....so if theres no water in the cylinders it s not hydro locked, and can it be crssed in gears??
 

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

crossed...like stuck in foward and reverse so its binding
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

Nope.
Pull the drive and see what happens.
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,346
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

did you check the oil level in the drive when you bought it? Low/no oil will tear up a drive.
 

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

just remove the top half of the outdrive from the rear of the boat? or is it gonna be a ball breaking job trying to get behind the engine which is virtually impossible.
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,346
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

remove the trim rams, the 6 nuts on the upper, put in fwd gear, and pull it off. guess the drive is like 60 lbs
 

DGIFF396

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
37
Re: Stuck In Gear Or Locked Up?

thank you to all u guys....your truly great...im off to begin the troubleshooting process...hope its quick and nothing major, as if i'de be that lucky :)
 
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