1990 120 Force L-drive propeller stopped mid driving

boaterino

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
16
Was driving along just fine, then suddenly engine revved very high and lost all propulsion. I dropped throttle back and the engine idles fine. Engaging drive in forward or reverse causes engine to rev, but it's like the transmission/propeller aren't engaging. I didnt hit anything, was in 50 feet of water, and prop is fine. Checked the rubber hub after boat was out of water, it looks fine. Checked transmission cable connection point to the lower unit on the underneath/back and it moves up and down when I put it in forward and reverse, so it doesnt appear that the cable broke. Any thoughts?
 

flyingscott

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
8,195
Spun the hub on the prop probably. Make a mark across the hub and see if it is still lined up after you run it.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
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Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,784
Welcome to iboats.

You won't be able to tell if the prop hub is bad by looking at it, or by turning it by hand.
Test the hub, or try a spare or different prop.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
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May 7, 2008
Messages
18,112
Almost any marine sales/ repair places have access to a prop shop.
They re-hub and recondition and even paint it.
 

boaterino

Cadet
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Aug 25, 2019
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16
Thanks for the updates, everyone! Putting a new prop on and testing...will let you know.
 

boaterino

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Aug 25, 2019
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Well sadly, its not a spun hub, something else. Put a new prop on it and same problem. Lifting and lowering the small bar on the back of the lower unit engages the propeller for forward, neutral, and reverse...seems like a connection between motor and lower unit?
 

jerryjerry05

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May 7, 2008
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18,112
Maybe a bad shift cable?
Is the throttle pulled out for fast idle?and not engaging the shifter?
 

boaterino

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
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16
Doesnt seem like shift cable. Shift cable moves the lower unit armature up amd down when I put it in forward or reverse. How would I check throttle being out for fast idle?
 

boaterino

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
16
Gear oil is fine, turning prop also turns u joint. Dropped lower unit, everything appears good on lower unit.
 

jerryjerry05

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May 7, 2008
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18,112
Motor off.
Unhook the shift cable at the motor, then have someone turn the prop as you manually shift the linkage.
Go from N-R then back then into F and repeat.
If that works? tthen the shift cable might be bad?

The new prop?? new or rebuilt?
 

boaterino

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
16
With the motor in gear turning the prop all I feel is the resistance of the water pump I don't feel any resistance on the motor. The U joint turns when I turned the prop in forward or in reverse in the appropriate direction but there's no resistance against the motor.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
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May 7, 2008
Messages
18,112
Under the motor is a coupler at the steering yoke, part of the drive chain.
The coupler has a pin holding it in place, it's possible the pin has broken?
Your gonna need to pull the motor to get to these parts :(
You can drop the lower unit first and see if the drive shaft splines have stripped?

Take lots of pics so you know where it all goes back to.
 

boaterino

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Aug 25, 2019
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16
https://ibb.co/sq5H2M0

Well, figured it out. Snapped whatever this part is. Now its stuck inside the motor. I need to try to figure out if it will pull out? Having a hard time trying to find the part number online with diagrams. Pretty sure thats the pin you're talking about? Just need to find the part number somewhere.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,784
Thats one of the few parts still available for that unit.
Expensive, but available.

There is even one on ebay right now.
F695628-1DRIVESHAFT
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,112
Roscoe, how about a # for the eBay item?
I looked with that Part# and didn't see it?
 
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