'62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

[DSinOR]

I just acquired a 15' Glass Craft with a 50931 1962 Starflite 75HP.

I did a lot of reading here, then some basic checks on the motor, then we put it on the water for about 2 hours. Lots of cruising, with some top-speed runs. I forgot my GPS, but I'm pretty sure we were up around 35mph at WOT, with everything sounding fine.

One problem - on 3 occasions, while accelerating from an idle, the motor popped out of gear for 1 second just as the boat was planing. It would pop back into gear very quickly, just as I was reflexively reducing throttle. It wasn't a huge bang; more of a medium clunk.

From reading here, it seems that this engine doesn't have clutch dogs, but rather friction clutches associated with the Selectric.

Where should I start troubleshooting: the electric shift settings and connections, or the motor?

I can't say whether the LU is full of the proper Type C or Premium lube, or gear oil. Could the wrong lube cause this?

Also, during our 2 hour test (mostly cruise, about 25 minutes on plane), we used 9 gallons of fuel. Wow! Does this sound normal for this old girl, or shall I be looking for carb or other problems affecting efficiency / fuel economy?

Thanks!

 

[F_R]

Re: '62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

Check the voltage at the green wire going down to the lower unit, without disconnecting the wire. Should show battery voltage when forward button is pushed. Repeat a whole bunch of times because it may be intermittant.

Oil counts. You need the right stuff and it needs to be clean.

Expect 6-8 gallons per hour at full throttle. I'd say you did good. Don't mess with it. Hey, the guy next to me at the gas station was filling his boat tanks. The pump stopped at $300 and he had to call the clerk to turn it back on. Feel better now?

 

[DSinOR]

Re: '62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

LOL!

Yes, I feel better.

I'll check the green wire volts and report back.

 

[DSinOR]

Re: '62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

Battery voltage = 12.4 with ignition off, 12.1 with ignition on.

Without disconnecting wires:
Green wire = zero volts in neutral, 10.3v in forward.
Blue wire = zero volts in neutral, 9.0v in reverse.

I found water in my LU oil, so I've pulled the LU and mostly disassembled it.

The shift cable from the engine compartment to the LU is in very good condition, with good continuity and no short between the two wires.

Measured resistance of the forward coil is 7.4 ohm. Reverse coil is 7.2 ohm. The book spec says these should be between 4.5 & 6.5 ohm.

I'm pretty sure that this is not the original LU.

Thoughts?


Also...
I wonder if anyone has done a write-up on rebuilding these LU's? I've searched, but haven't found a definitive source describing:
> Which gaskets must be bought, custom-cut, or replaced with silicon.
> What type of silicon works best.
> where to find shaft oil seals
> what to do about the 4 gearcase head screws that need an oring or something similar
> which gaskets and seals (if any) are typically re-used, vs. which must absolutely be replaced.
> source for replacing nylock nuts on the studs (must these be replaced every time?)
> etc

Anyway, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[F_R]

Re: '62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

Well to begin with, your voltages are low. And I don't know what to say about the resistances. Seems like too many bad things happening all at once. My gut feeling is that the shift switch is the culprit.

All the seals and stuff are available from an Evinrude dealer.

Silicone is not reccommended anywhere in the manual.

 

[DSinOR]

Re: '62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

Hey thanks FR!

These are good old motors, but keeping them running would be a lot tougher without this valuable experience base to tap into.

The shift wires are presently disconnected at the back of the engine compartment. This is what I get on the green forward wire: 11.4v with forward button pushed, 3.4v in neutral, 4.4v in reverse!

On the blue wire, I get 11.4v in reverse, 3.0v in neutral, and 3.4v in forward!

So I'll be inspecting, cleaning, repairing the contacts and switches in the shift box and likely replacing some wire. I'll test the ignition switch as well.

The oil that came out of the LU was too thick to be Type C.

My plan is to chase down and repair electrical problems, clean up the LU parts, seal everything up, put it back together, and see how she runs with proper LU lube. My gut agrees with yours: my shift problems are probably caused by electrical.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: '62 Starflite 75HP Selectric - pops out of gear?

You are in the best hands possible with F_R posting in your thread. My 1962 Johnson 75 with electric shift was purchased with the PO telling me "it had lower unit problems". I only drained the gearcase, refilled it with Type C oil and all my problems went away for the ten years I owned that motor. I personally think the electric shift is great. Good luck!