silverga01
Cadet
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2005
- Messages
- 27
After the great help I got in my last thread, I thought I'd throw this question out.<br /><br />I bought my boat from family. 1973 Century with a 3.0 Mercruiser I/O of that era. My family member had taken the old motor out. I bought a used motor to put in, and he dropped it in. Went out and found out first thing out that it needed a new lower pump. Replaced that myself, refilled the gear lube to proper levels, and ran it in the driveway with ears. Temp was good. <br /><br />Took it to the lake again. Temp was great. Going down the lake for about 10 minutes and then things came unglued. The prop felt like it slipped out of gear and the engine started heating up. Got a tow with my family.<br /><br />After looking at it at home, I started to wonder if I hadn't busted a driveshaft, so I took it all apart. First I checked my pump kit and it was in great shape. So then I spun the drive shaft in the lower unit and the prop spun. Next I checked the gear housing, taking it off. The drive shaft and u-joint was in good shape. Put the gear housing and the lower unit together and rotated the driveshaft and it was fine.<br /><br />That leads me to think it's the coupler. When my family ripped the motor out and then helped me put the new one in, I was brand new to boating (and mostly still am), so I didn't know about aligning the motor, and my brother in law apparently didn't either and never mentioned it. So I'm wondering if it wasn't aligned and ruined the coupler. So I disconnected the distributor, and rotated the engine without spark to see if the coupler turned. It does, but that's without a load on it also.<br /><br />So after this horrible narrative, my question.<br /><br />I have the stern drive off, with just the bell housing left. How do I test the coupler to be sure that's the part I need? I'd hate to scavange one up, rip the motor out, only to find it's still in good shape. Anyone know a way to test it for certain?<br /><br />Again, sorry for the length of this, but I felt you had to have the whole story here to this point for the best possible reply.<br /><br />Thanks.