1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

[NYCruisers]

My props spins in neutral. Doesn't pop in or out of gear like the threads I found searching, it just spins as though it's in gear. Trying to get into the water today, but not having neutral will make docking tricky.

Any ideas?

 

[nate1220]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Is this motor new to you?

 

[NYCruisers]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Yes, it is.

[edit] This is not a slow turn due to vibration, it's enough to empty my test tank when the idle increases.

Backstory: Motor/boat was sitting for 2 years when I bought it - I followed the resurrection sticky + changed water pump, new carb, new wiring harness, new lower unit seals / gear oil. Haven't gotten around to the gears but want to get into the water today to stretch her out and fine tune the carbs.

 

[bankerjohn]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

With the motor off, do you feel any resistance when you spin the prop in either direction with your hand?

Could be that your shift linkage needs to be adjusted!

 

[NYCruisers]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Update:

1) Throttle Lever in Neutral: Prop spins in forward, not reverse
2) Throttle Lever in Forward: Prop spins in forward, not reverse
3) Throttle Lever in Reverse: Prop does not spin in either direction.
4) Both shift wires disconnected: Prop spins freely in both directions.

The first three could lead me to believe it's a transmission problem, but with #4 I am suspecting the (ungodly expensive) switch up in the throttle housing. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[bankerjohn]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Sorry ... I know absolutely nothing about those electric shift motors ... someone else with that knowledge should be able to provide some advice!

 

[NYCruisers]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Thanks, hope so. Should've mentioned it's an Super Seahorse Electramatic.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Update:

1) Throttle Lever in Neutral: Prop spins in forward, not reverse
2) Throttle Lever in Forward: Prop spins in forward, not reverse
3) Throttle Lever in Reverse: Prop does not spin in either direction.
4) Both shift wires disconnected: Prop spins freely in both directions.

The first three could lead me to believe it's a transmission problem, but with #4 I am suspecting the (ungodly expensive) switch up in the throttle housing. Does this sound reasonable?

OK, let's start over. Are these tests with the boat out of the water and not running, or what? My gut feeling is that you have the wrong shift switch in the control. DO NOT attempt to run it in reverse if I am correct. It will bust something expensive.

Please be more specific and we can figure it out for you. Do you have a volt meter (multimeter) and know how to check voltages?

 

[NYCruisers]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

I have a homemade test tank, basically a 75 gallon-or-so bin, but the "prop turns" I mentioned are by hand, no motor.

I have a voltmeter and after my last post I tested the two wires from the throttle to the shift cable in the motor on F,R & N. I have a new harness so F is blue and R is brown. The brown is hot in F/R/N. The blue is only hot in F. Ohm readings from the wires to the gearbox is fine.

Since the switch has been sitting for years I removed it and just flipped the lever on it a hundred times or so, sometimes that loosens things up, but no go. Doesn't appear to be serviceable.

I have not attempted to change gears with this condition...I understand the consequences. Unfortunately I can't run the motor in the test tank like this; the water gets thrown out of the tank and I have to stop the motor.

Looks like I may miss Lake George next weekend.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

Ok, something it obviously screwed up there. There should be 12v on green (forward) when control is in forward gear ONLY, and 12v on blue (reverse) when control is in reverse ONLY. No voltage in either wire when control is in neutral.

Now it is up to you to back track and see what is messed up.

 

[NYCruisers]

Re: 1966 80hp prop spinning in neutral

This prop issue occurred on the old harness. I replaced the harness due to overall wear and assumed the prop issue could easily have been a short, but new harness, same old problem.

Since the only other components is the circuit are the switch and battery, and the battery can't possible cause this problem, I have to assume for now the switch has an internal malfunction. Wish it were serviceable.

Thanks for the insights. I'll post "solved" if the new switch solves the problem. At least I found a cheap one online.