it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

[evinice66]

so i finally got my 1st boat in the water, the engine is a '66 evinrude 40
it was sitting for 19 years and yesterday was the first time i took it out. she ran great and i was happy exept 1. it struggled and didint make it to plane
( this could be because there was 4 people in a flat bottom 14 foot fiberglass and the waves were 1-2 1/2 feet also i had a lil too much oil in too, ... thats the last time i am going to see waves like that cuz a couple times we had some big splashes over the windshield) 2. when id give it throttle more than 5mph (guessing) it felt like i was hitting a log occationally and more frequently as it went faster. man i have some learning to do...
i adjusted my cable so it was tighter thinking it was slipping in and out of gear
really quickly but to no avail problem persisted. its fine when im in trolling speeds but i dont want a 40hp trolling motor! could this be because my anti cavitation plate is 4 inches below my hull and there was a big load? is my hub on the prop slipping? or is it going to be a lower unit overhaul? i cant afford this!!! its my birthday tommorow and i want to be trolling for trout and excited i can hit 35 mph... can i at least troll for a couple hours and not be stuck in the milwaukee river? or lake michigan? without causing more unneccesary damage? this only happens like every 45 seconds to about 2 minutes..... is this because the little "cone" with the cotter pin half cracked off? it shifts in and out of gear very extra smooth!!! PLEASE HELP! ID RATHER SCREAM FOR HELP HERE THAN FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER WITH A BIG ***** BARGE RUNNING ME DOWN!!! HAHA thankyou... tony

 

[DJ]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

Most likely you are slipping out of gear due to a worn clutch dog.

It is possible that it is a slipping prop hub but I doubt it. That is easy enough to check.

-Scribe a line on the prop hub and another on the prop shaft.
-Run the boat.
-Do they still line up?

 

[Solittle]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

Tony see "Awakening a sleeping outboard" in the FAQ section. You have a few things to do before getting an engine that has been sitting for 19 years to run properly.

 

[F_R]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

That hitting bottom complaint is a classic. More often, they say it felt like hitting a log. Or, down here in the swamps, like hitting a gator. Whatever, it is all the same thing..the clutch dog and forward gear are worn out. $$$$ is the cure. Be sure you convert it to "snap shift" when you repair it.

 

[evinice66]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

dj: will do

solittle:i had a pro go threw it so it should be ok....

fr: i was gonna acually say that it feels like im hitting a log!
so, is this a major $ deal here or not so much? how much would that be for a guy to do it?? parts are real cheap in wisconsin but labor isnt. whats a snap shift??? its not elecric shift if thats what you meant.....


will everything be ok if i just troll around for a couple hours today, i really want to take it out but i dont want to cause more damage...

 

[evinice66]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

i just called my guy and i toldd him to ball park an estimate on the clutch dog and forward gear, he said anywhere from $200- $400 depending on how it looks inside and that is indeed the problem... as far as that snap shift were you talking about adding bearings in? he said he replaces just as many of those as clutch dogs and gears... anyone else think this should be the way to go? should i be getting sierra or omc gears????

 

[F_R]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

"Snap shift" was an improvement that was made to ensure that the clutch dog fully engages the forward and/or reverse gears. It also makes the dog "snap" quickly into engagement with the gear, overcoming the slop and looseness in the linkages. It consists of a dog with countours ground in the inside and a spring and two balls through the center of the prop shaft. In all probability, the new dog that you buy will be the one with the contours ground, so it is foolish not to go ahead and do the rest of the job.

Here's the catch: The prop shaft has to be drilled for the spring and balls. It has to be drilled on center and it is surprisingly tough stuff to drill. Best to have somebody drill it on a milling machine. I have a milling machine, so it is easy for me.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

F_R's got it right. BTW, don't baby it into gear. Shift briskly! Slow shifting, thinking it's easier on the lower unit is a bad mistake with outboards and I/O's.

 

[Lodgepole]

Re: it feels like i keep hitting bottom but im not whats causing this

Get the parts at best price you can find and do it yourself, it's no big deal. Just remember it goes back together just like it comes apart. Original style parts will last nearly forever if you "shift brisklY". While you are in there, you might think about seals and impeller if it's been sitting for years. Trolling wont hurt the shifter dog but a lack of service on a 19 year sitter sure will.