1989, 3cyl, 50HP Lower unit grinding.

[Keith Buchanan]

Woah!!!. I couldn't have backed the throttle any faster, I was aproaching the nav' channel into Fleetwood Harbour and you just know when something doesn't sound right. It was a calm night and the donkey was at W.O.T.!!!<br /><br />Then I got this death rattle and I thought "Oh ****!! and immediatelly pulled the power off.<br />I started idleing towards the harbour which was still 3 miles away. Not too sure we were going to make it to our destination I shouted up Liverpool Coastguard on Ch16 and made them aware of our non urgent situation. After Liverpool were happy that there were no immediate dangers to us or other shipping they called our volunteer lifeboat service and they towed us in.<br /><br />Many thanks to the R.N.L.I.<br /><br />I now have isolated the problem down to the lower unit, I must have shed a tooth or two. When I drained the gear oil it came out like silver paint.<br /><br />I have now dropped the lower unit and it is ready to be dissected.<br /><br />Apart from needing a degree in gyneocology ( I think I spelled it right) how do you get into these things to do an autopsy. There is a big plastic inside nut behind the prop and the only way I can see the main drive shaft coming out is if the water pump housing lifts off the 3 studs which are now free but it doesn't want to.<br /><br />Alive and well, plenty of fish that night, just want a little advise from you guys..And once again thanks to all the volunteer crews and support staff of the Lifeboat...you never know when you will be glad to see them..<br /><br />Regards all Keith B.....