help I think I have outdrive problem

[hunter04]

Ok , Bear with me I know nothing about outdrives and need Help I have a 4.3 motor and a alpha 1 drive. Yesterday I was on the water full throttle and all of a sudden I heard a Noise maybe a crack type noise hard to say really but then the boat just stopped motor still running but the boat wont go anywhere just like it was put into neutral. Any help would be great. thanks

 

[Fishermark]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

First - welcome aboard.

Second, there are several possibilities...

1. Spun prop hub

2. Bad engine coupler

3. Broken gear internally in the drive.

With the engine off, and the drive in forward. Turn the prop by hand and see if it locks in place one direction and ratchets in the other. It should.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

For what it is worth, it sounds like more than a spun prop or coupler. But check anyway. Here's what happened to mine under similar circumstances. The upper gear sheared off just like it was cut with a laser:

 

[Alumarine]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

For what it is worth, it sounds like more than a spun prop or coupler. But check anyway. Here's what happened to mine under similar circumstances. The upper gear sheared off just like it was cut with a laser:

Was that an OEM shaft that broke?
I wonder if there was a radius there.

 

[futz]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Did it overheat if yes coupler. Spun prop would have been easy to tell if you changed out the prop even on the water.

But if it overheated for sure coupler, see the water pump won't turn. spun prop the pump is still working.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

I fried my gears in my Alpha One, same symptoms. I was at WOT, and all of the sudden, no forward or reverse. The prop locks into gear when the boat is off, however, nothing while it is running. If this is the case, you're best bet is to get a new outdrive, but make sure you get the correct gear ratio. It sucks to hear, I know, I just went through it. .

 

[hunter04]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Ok It definitly did not overheat we were not even out on the water very long, as for testing it with it in gear I will do that tonite. Dont say new outdrive Thats way too much money.yikes

 

[futz]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

drain the gear oil, alot of metal then you know it's a gear. Friend had that.

Pray it's the prop cheapest easiest way out. maybe you hit something and it gave you the noise and the result.

And believe me it would have overheated fast you would know it. if it was the coupler.

 

[sdoomaha]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Apologize for my ignorance...but why would overheating have a cause and effect relationship with the coupler? The coupler is certainly not water cooled....so I'm confused about the connection. Thanks for explaining.

 

[SeanMcl]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Apologize for my ignorance...but why would overheating have a cause and effect relationship with the coupler? The coupler is certainly not water cooled....so I'm confused about the connection. Thanks for explaining.

The overheating would happen after the coupler broke. When the coupler breaks, the water pump stops pumping. The overheating is the symptom of a broken coupler, not the cause.

 

[sdoomaha]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

That makes pefect sense...thanks for explaining.

 

[Don S]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

A failed coupler does not automatically mean an overheat.

If the rubber breakes loose from the coupler like it does from a prop, then it won't overheat. You will smell smoke after a while because on the coupler, it's inside the boat in no water on it to cool it. But the rubber is still broke free from the metal splines. This would still power the raw water pump, and the drive would probably still push the boat fwd and reverse at idle.
Now, if the splines wear out of the coupler, nothing in the drive turns. Now you have an overheat.
Props will still work at idle rpm's (unless they fall off completely).

If the splines stripped out of the coupler, the coupler went out for a reason. Lack of lubrication on the splines, and alignment issues are the reasons, aka, lack of maintenance. Couplers only cost in the 3 to 400 dollar range, but you have to pull the engine out of the boat to replace it. May have faulty mounts or even transom/stringer problems.

 

[hunter04]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Ok so heres the deal I put it in gear and turned the prop I get a clunk clunk noise, and counterclockwise it sounds as though rubber is rubbing together so what does this mean? By the way thanks to everyone for there input I found this site today while trying to search my problem and wow full of info and great people apperntly , thanks a bunch! Oh and by the way the clunk clunk sounds as though it is close to where the upper part of the outdrive and the lower connect although I cant be sure on that since it is all metal.

 

[Bondo]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Ok so heres the deal I put it in gear and turned the prop I get a clunk clunk noise, and counterclockwise it sounds as though rubber is rubbing together so what does this mean?

Ayuh,... My guess is,... It's a Click, Click you're hearing from down low,+ forward in the drive,..
The shift dogs...
And the rubbing is the Impeller turning in the housing....
That means it's broken between the impeller,+ the motor....
My bet is you're going to find Pieces, Exactly as pictured in Mark's photos....

There used to be an oring groove right there,... It was deleted on later drives...

 

[Don S]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Remove the outdrive and look. Wouldn't be the first ujoint to fail.
To remove the drive
PUT THE SHIFTER IN FORWAD GEAR
disconnect the trim rams from the aft pin.
remove the 6 nuts holding the drive to bellhousing
Pull drive off.

10 minutes. But, do not put it back on.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Was that an OEM shaft that broke?
I wonder if there was a radius there.

Bond-o is exactly right. Mine was an OEM shaft with the o ring groove and that is where it snapped.

Back to the original poster.... If your prop fails to lock in place when turned counterclockwise with the drive in forward, then you need to see what else turns when you turn the prop. Can you tell if only the outer part of the prop is turning? Can you look inside, behind the engine and see if the shaft there turns? That will help determine what is broken and where.

 

[hunter04]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

I will check that today when I get home and see if anything else moves in the counterclockwise movement, I am geussing nothing does cause when I tried last nite it was somewhat difficult to turn that way and like I had mentioned it just sounded like rubber rubbing together.

 

[hunter04]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

Ok sorry I was out of town for a few days, Back to the issue when I turn the prop I cannot really see where anything is turning inside the boat although it Is somewhat hard to see. So first off Don had suggested removing the outdrive is this advisible or no? And truely since I am new to all this if I did remove it what exactly would I be looking for once I remove it also will I need a pan under it or anything I mean will there be a bunch of gear oil?,,, Also if we went with the assumption the shaft is broke like the picture in previous reply is this something that can be replaced or do I need a whole new outdrive? thanks

 

[hunter04]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

I just noticed something else when I turn the prop clockwise when it gets the area that its going to make that clunk It appears as though the prop gets pushed slightly away from the outdrive itself? what does this mean or is it not telling anything

 

[hunter04]

Re: help I think I have outdrive problem

I need to bump this back to top I really need some help with this waiting answers to my questions thanks