1991 225hp won't go into gear

tbarker

Cadet
Joined
Apr 14, 2003
Messages
12
Hi all ...<br /><br />Been having trouble getting into reverse for some time. I put it down to adjustment in the cable.<br />Yesterday, it wouldn't go into reverse when starting up. The motor was cold at the time. 20 minutes later she went into reverse OK, and was fine all day long.<br />Coming home I thought I might have hit a mudbank at low speed so I stopped. No evidence of mud or anything like it. So I kept going slowly until I had 3 feet or so under the keel.<br />When I gave it gas to get onto the plane it was OK for about 10 seconds then it seemed to jump out of gear and the motor jumped up.<br />Again I checked for any evidence of mud, sand rocks or even aliens! Nothing. Motor works fine, tried in and out of gear but it didn't sound like it was engaging at all.<br />I thought it might be the prop so I changed it - while on the water - sitting on the leg! -(which puts a whole new perspective on the phrase "don't rock the boat") -<br /><br />Tried it with the other prop - nothing at all. Prop doesn't turn at all, neither in forward nor reverse.<br /><br />I have looked at my workshop manual, it isn't much help troubleshooting, just tells me how to assemble and disassemble it.<br /><br />I did try to put it into gear manually, had a friend work the lever while I checked the linkage at the motor. The linkage moved correctly, I even pushed it by hand - it seems to have full travel both forwards and backwards.<br /><br />I live on an island and it is difficult to get to a competent mechanic.<br /><br />Anybody got any ideas? <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Tim
 

Dhadley

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 4, 2001
Messages
16,978
Re: 1991 225hp won't go into gear

When it's running now (after the last time it jumped out of gear) does it pump water?
 

tbarker

Cadet
Joined
Apr 14, 2003
Messages
12
Re: 1991 225hp won't go into gear

Yes. it pumps water . same amount as usual. I thought of that this morning after posting, I guess this means that the drive shaft from the motor isn't broken (I hope).<br /><br />I got towed back to the boat ramp this morning as well .. While I was under tow, quite slowly - by a dinghy with a 15 hp, only a few knots, I put it into forward, just to see what happened. <br />The motor made some noises, no grinding, no crunches .. sort of a whirring noise. I was busy being towed so I couldn't go down the back of the boat to investigate any further.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Tim
 

Dhadley

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 4, 2001
Messages
16,978
Re: 1991 225hp won't go into gear

Yep, if it's pumping water the driveshaft isn't broken at least to the water pump area. I was really more concerned about the splines being stripped. Relatively good news.<br /><br />The next step is to drain the gear oil and see what we got. It almost sounds like the pinion gear is stripped or the end of the shaft is broken. That would explain the whirring noise when you put it in gear while being towed.
 

tbarker

Cadet
Joined
Apr 14, 2003
Messages
12
Re: 1991 225hp won't go into gear

I have removed the gearbox ... now I'll play with it and see if it is something simple (I hope)...<br /><br /><br />cheers,<br /><br />Tim
 

tbarker

Cadet
Joined
Apr 14, 2003
Messages
12
Re: 1991 225hp won't go into gear

Oh dear....<br /><br />Pulled the gearbox off, took it to the local mechanic. He took off the water pump housing. Result: Broken driveshaft = $800 ouch!<br /><br />Now I am hunting for a used driveshaft...
 
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