Force bucking

[bluegothic13]

Hi,

This month on the day I took my 18' fresh water ski boat out of the water, the 1986 Force 125 HP OB on it started to buck in forward after I turned her over. (No pun intended.) It didn't do it in reverse.

Because of the bucking force, I didn't go more that a crawl. To much of the bucking and my transome would have cracked.

Is it a gear issue? How can I determine?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Force bucking

If you are saying it bucks or clunks as you try to speed up it sounds like a worn clutch dog or possibly a shift cable adjustment.
If the engine idles too high shifting will prematurely wear the clutch dog.Also shifting should be done crisply neither jamming it into gear nor dragging it too slowly.

 

[bluegothic13]

Re: Force bucking

Spike,

Thanks for responding.

What does a clutch dog do? If the engine doesn't buck in reverse, does it still fit the diagnosis?

The shift cable adjustment sounds interesting. I had recently detached the throttle component from the side board in order to re carpet. Maybe the shift cable was adversely effected.

I don't have a garage to work in. And for some reason, no boat mechanic in the Metro Boston area wants to work on a 1986 Force OB.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Force bucking

Speaking generically::
To keep it simple the clutch dog slides back and forth to ingage the forward and reverse gears.And it is normal for reverse to work and forward to clunk.On some motors you can reverse the clutch dog to solve the problem. Sometimes you can unhook the shift cable and shift by hand to test it. If it doesn't clunk then it is most likely the cable adjustment.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Force bucking

yep clutch dog
need to rebuild the lower unit

or shift shaft needs adjusment