Help!! Pops in neutral

[Burkett2000]

Good evening I’m glad I found this chat room, I have a crest pontoon boat with a MerCruiser inboard outboard engine I ran upon a sand bar and since then I can be cruising down the lake and then all of a sudden it’s like it pops into neutral if I push the throttle down it revs up but the boat does not go faster. I can put it in neutral and then re-engage Then it seems to work fine. Has anybody had an issue like this? What can it be.


thanks, Burkett2000

 

[racerone]

Try another propeller.------I would say the rubber drive hub is slipping.

 

[HotTommy]

A way to check for slipping is to put waterproof marks on the prop and the hub. If they are no longer aligned after you feel your symptom, then its time for a new prop/hub.

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

Could be the coupler. too. Do what Tommy said with marking the prop.

When you say put it in neutral and reengage, are you letting the boat slow and then putting it in gear?

Moving this to the Mercruiser section, being in a pontoon isn't important.

 

[harringtondav]

..same as above. Assuming you have a Merc Alpha drive. That drive uses a dog clutch. Once engaged it doesn't let go. Install a new prop, and keep your fingers crossed. If this works you are good. Else your coupler may be damaged. Big hassle.

You are probably beyond this, but early on with my boat I caught a prop full of fresh water grass and my prop let go. After freaking out, I learned to stop, shift to REV, give it a quick blast to clear the junk and move on.

 

[Burkett2000]

racerone is that very expensive? I’m not mechanical at all!

 

[Bondo]

racerone is that very expensive? I’m not mechanical at all!

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... Inspect what you've got, before buying anything,.....