Help ran aground

[Stress Blows]

During todays trip in my nephew's new boat 1980 Jonhson 50 hp we ran aground.

it was sand, not rocks - the boat would not go in reverse or forward afterwards. We had to be towed in...

What damage did we do?? Where do I start diag?

I have removed the prop hoping to find a shear pin...dont see one.

Did we break the drive shaft or other internal?

Please help

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Help ran aground

Sounds like you "ate" the clutch dog.

 

[F_R]

Re: Help ran aground

It would be pretty hard to break a shaft or any other gearcase part simply by running aground in sand. If simply running aground in sand would damage it, 98% of the motors here in the swamps would be in the scrap heap. Everybody runs aground sooner or later. I would rather suspect you tore the rubber hub loose in the prop, or there is something screwed up in the control.

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

I hoped that sand wasnt capable of tearing up gears.

Forgive me for not introducung myself as a newbie to outboards - I own an in/out Volvo Penta in our boat and never had any issues...

So please help with what is a clutch dog?? And also if it is controls do you mean linkage not engaging properly??

I can rule the prop out I think because i can turn the shaft semi- freely while in forward or reverse with the prop removed.

Thanks for the help - please point me in a directions to start checking...I will look closer at the linkage and cable.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help ran aground

put muffs on the motor, try shifting in the drive way, disconnect shift cable and shift at motor. the clutch dog, is a very square tooth gear the moves to forward and reverse, on the prop shaft, corners get worn off then if slips out of gear, you I/O is the same.

you cannot visually tell if the prop spun the hub, the hub has inner and outer metal with a rubber bushing pressed inbetween. you have to draw a line across the hub, then do a test run in the water, if line still line up. it is not the prop.

 

[F_R]

Re: Help ran aground

You wrote "I can rule the prop out I think because i can turn the shaft semi- freely while in forward or reverse with the prop removed."

Oh-oh. That might not be good. But by all means disconnect the shift cable and see if you can shift the motor by hand. That will narrow it down.

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

Removed the shift cable and here is the result

Push the linkage towrard Bow and the prop will turn 1/4 turn and then lock - no longer free spinning

Push the linkage back and the prop free spins. It makes a slight clank sound and (sounds similar to a set of rough bearings on a car wheel) and once in a while became resistant for a bit- clanks and spins free...

Clutch Dog??
If it is
How difficult a repair is it? I have rebuilt jet pumps on our sea doos so I am fairly conifident I can repair this boat - with a little help frm the experts on this site.

 

[F_R]

Re: Help ran aground

Well, that sort of confirms that something is wrong either with the shift linkage between the lever that you are moving and where it attaches to the shift rod under the carburetor....or something is wrong in the gearcase. It's just awfully hard to say just what, from this far away. I still seriously doubt that running aground had anything to do with it unless it was on the verge of failing anyway. How about it, how is the oil in the gearcase? Or is it full of water? Clutch dog?? Nah, unless it is damaged as a result of something else...I'd be inclined to say something is badly worn in the parts that move the clutch dog.

One thing for sure, if it isn't in the upper linkage, the gearcase has to come completely apart for inspection and repair. Get a factory shop manual before proceeding.

 

[Kajun37]

Re: Help ran aground

this is what happened when i hit a sandbar....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help ran aground

did you try to power off the sandbar?

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

Ok so a manual is the next step

I assume you dont mean a clymers?

Any suggestions on where to get one would be appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help ran aground

reprints of the OEM manuals are available at outboardbooks.com. or you can get the volume number and look for a used one on ebay.. i would not buy one on cd.

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

The gear lube is grey in color and not transparent (I cant see through it)...I assume that means water in lube?

So what does that indicate?

Thanks for the lead on the manual

 

[mtsumedi]

Re: Help ran aground

Pack some more of that sand in and around those cylinders and boost that baby!! If you can keep the head gasket together you will make some monster power for a few minutes til you cook the whole engine. ;-)

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Help ran aground

Here is an original OEM service manual,not a reprint. 20 bucks!
The seller ships fast!!!
"http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-JOHNSON-OUTBOARD-MOTOR-50-55-60-HP-SERVICE
-MANUAL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ26453QQihZ016QQitemZ260063918885"

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

Thanks - but after using some of the resources here...I determined the motor is actually a 1988 50 hp.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help ran aground

What FR is telling you is with the shift cable disconnected and the lever to which it attches shifted into forward or reverse, if you can still turn the prop shaft by hand there is something broken. The prop shaft should not turn in gear. Only in neutral.

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

What FR is telling you is with the shift cable disconnected and the lever to which it attches shifted into forward or reverse, if you can still turn the prop shaft by hand there is something broken. The prop shaft should not turn in gear. Only in neutral.

I understood that perfectly...I was relatively certain the problem was internal when i removed the prop and could turn the shaft when the level was in forward or reverse...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Help ran aground

Go to this seller on Ebay,send him an email.I bet he has a manual in stock just not listed..Nice guy,he usually gets right back to you too.
"http://stores.ebay.com/VINTAGE-SNOWMOBILES-AND-SPORTSCARDS"

If not PM me i have another guy in NY that has a warehouse full...

 

[Stress Blows]

Re: Help ran aground

Thanks but I ordered one from Outboardbooks.com

I found a rebuilt lower unit for $650 with a one year warranty.

I wonder if i will need more than $650 in parts? Really cant tell until I get the manual and remove the lower unit to determine my problem with this one.