won't go in drive

[riley4]

I put the boat in the water for the first time this season today after purchasing it used last fall. On the muffs before going out, when putting it in gear the prop turned "a little" in fwd and reverse, when I put in gear on the water.....nothin. Engine ran fine but it just didn't feel like it engaged in gear. The previous owner just had a new throttle and gear shift lever put in the boat before I bought it and it looks like those components are shifting ok forward and back in the engine compartment but something in the drive system isn't working to drive the prop. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: won't go in drive

Ayuh,...... just What does this boat have for a Motor,+ Drive,..??

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

It's a 5.7 liter mercruiser stern drive.

 

[Don S]

Re: won't go in drive

Good start riley, but need more. Read this thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220416

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

It's an '86 Alpha One, 5.7L Mercruiser with the mercruiser outdrive. After reading the next post where the gentlemen can't get the his drive into neutral it may be the top and bottom cables aren't adjusted properly although supposedly this gear shift lever and throttle control were professionally replaced.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: won't go in drive

I asked my self whats this mean when I read it in your post?

"when putting it in gear the prop turned "a little" in fwd and reverse"

Sounds like to me maby the prop hub is either spun or shot if it has a rubber hub or even worse the engine coupler is sun / wore out.

Out of the water with no resistance the prop may turn / slip with either of these conditions. When in water the prob is held back from turning and the motor just spins.

Id start with the prop hub since thats easy to check, the coupler, well maby not so easy to see.

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

Thanks for the replies. I am going out now to recheck a few things and on your suggestions and will post back soon.

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

I removed the prop. But I am not sure how to tell if it is spun or not. Can anyone provide more info to help, please?

 

[Don S]

Re: won't go in drive

A spun prop, will usually work at idle in the water. On muffs, the air will not stop the prop from moving at all. Put it back on, start it up and let it idle (on muffs). Then put the shifter in forward gear, then go back to the engine compartment and see if you can push the shift mechanism (where the 2 shift cables mount,) a little further and make it go into gear do the same with reverse.

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

Thanks Don. I checked this first and when putting it in forward and reverse the propeller spins slowly each direction. Would that mean it is getting in drive?

I'm off to go try again on the shift mechanism.

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

I pushed forward and back on the shift lever in the engine compartment. There was no change with speed of propeller, although the engine cut out when I pushed additionally in the reverse direction.

 

[Don S]

Re: won't go in drive

Have you checked the drive oil? or looked at the magnet on the drain plug? One other thing, is it pumping water out the back when you run it?

 

[hullofalottatrouble]

Re: won't go in drive

it is acting just like mine did when the lower shift cable gave out.. it wil just barely catch and as Don said with no resistence on the prop the prop will spin.. and you will think its working just fine.. but i would bet that if you shut the engine off and shift into forward you could still go back out there and turn the prop in either direction by hand.. shouldnt be able to do that if it was really in gear all the way.. do you have an OEM service manual?

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

With the engine off and gear shift lever in forward, the prop turned forward but not in reverse by hand.

I don't have an OEM service manual and am embarrassed to admit I don't know where to check for the drive oil or what to look for as far as water pumping out the back. Would you guess this is my first boat?

 

[hullofalottatrouble]

Re: won't go in drive

hmmm.. did ya try really really hard? might be something else..

 

[Don S]

Re: won't go in drive

The manual is easy. Below is a link to an online oem manual. Identical to the paper version. Just go to the manual outline and click on the section letter you want to view (or save to your computer for future use)
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf


The is also one other test I would like you to do. Not sure why I didn't have you do this first.
Disconnect the shift cable (at the engine side connection) going to the outdrive while everything is in neutral. Start the engine (on muffs of course) and see if you can push and pull the shift cable to forward and reverse.

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

Thanks for the link. My wife is going to print it while I go back to the boat. Another question.....

If I disconnect the shift cable at the engine, and pull it into forward and reverse, what I am looking for?

 

[Don S]

Re: won't go in drive

To see if it will go into gear or not.
Don't have her print the whole manual. That is 566 pages of which you will only need a few. Print what you need.

 

[riley4]

Re: won't go in drive

I tried what you said by manually moving the cable. The prop didn't spin fast. Next step?

 

[Don S]

Re: won't go in drive

Did you put the prop on, did it clunk into gear? Did it spin one way then reverse and go the other way. They don't spin at the same speed as the engine, much slower.