Mercruiser outdrive

[jkeating]

So last weekend I went boats and made a 40 mile trip. On my way back I came across a wake and it seemed like the outdrive came out of the water. So I immediately pulled off the throttle and let the motor wind down. Then I proceeded back into gear and we went no where. I was stranded.... So I got towed back in and came home after the weekend. I just adjusted the shift cables and it seems to be going into gear now. It locks in forward and reverse.. Now why when I put it into gear and spin the prop the opposite way of it locking would it ratchet like a ratchet strap? It that normal because it don't seem right to me? 1990 searay 200br 4.3l v6 Engine oc865660 Transom 0D334351 Drive 0D326764

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

normal

 

[ziggy]

agree w/ HS. ^ it's normal
it the clutch dog. the gear teeth are in mesh when in gear. a spring pushes them together initially. when ya rotate the prop the wrong way, the gear teeth climb up the ramp of the gear teeth. when they fall off into the next tooth ya hear the ratcheting sound of the gears going back into mesh.
wait till ya accidentally turn off the engine while in fwd, at speed on the lake. as the boat decelerates the prop is being turned by the water flowing by it. it'll go buzzzzzz (high speed ratcheting sound) until the prop stops turning from water flowing by it.

 

[jkeating]

So with all that said and the linkages re adjusted is there a chance the outdrive is still ok? I'm just unsure why it would not go back into gear... But means now when put in gear the prop locks I assume it is still ok?

 

[Bondo]

So last weekend I went boats and made a 40 mile trip. On my way back I came across a wake and it seemed like the outdrive came out of the water. So I immediately pulled off the throttle and let the motor wind down. Then I proceeded back into gear and we went no where. I was stranded.... So I got towed back in and came home after the weekend. I just adjusted the shift cables and it seems to be going into gear now. It locks in forward and reverse.. Now why when I put it into gear and spin the prop the opposite way of it locking would it ratchet like a ratchet strap? It that normal because it don't seem right to me? 1990 searay 200br 4.3l v6 Engine oc865660 Transom 0D334351 Drive 0D326764

Ayuh,.... I'm guessin' ya blew the Prop Hub, or the Coupler,.... Did it Overheat when it wouldn't go,..?? Did it clunk at all when ya shifted into gear,..?? Were the cables out of adjustment,..?? How much,..?? Scribe a line across the prop hub, 'n try it, if the line moves, get another prop,... If the line don't move, pull the motor, 'n change the coupler,...

 

[jkeating]

I'm not quite sure what your exactly talking about.... Some more detail would be appreciated. Also I just put it into gear and where the prop locks into place I can turn the prop using both hands if that means anything

 

[jkeating]

As for it clunking no. It made no noise once I tried putting it into gear. The shift cables were both about 3/4" out of line. And for over heating yes and no. It started to heat up and I shut her down before it got to the top of the temp gauge. When I looked by the out drive it appeared to still be moving water kinda like when it's started in neutral and was splashing water around

 

[Fishermark]

I'm not quite sure what your exactly talking about.... Some more detail would be appreciated. Also I just put it into gear and where the prop locks into place I can turn the prop using both hands if that means anything

Yes - that means you either have a spun prop hub or bad coupler. (Maybe even internal issues with the drive).

When you turn the prop with both hands, see if the entire prop turns (hub and all), or just the outer portion of the prop.

 

[jkeating]

If I was looking at it right yes the prop and hub was both spinning.

 

[jkeating]

Would I be able to open the sun deck and see when the prop is being spun if the coupler was too or is it not possible to see it ?

 

[jkeating]

We'll I pulled the outdrive and wedged a bar in at the top u joint and was unable to turn the prop so I'm guessing coupler it is. I order one.. But the only problem is that some meth head stole it off my porch today after being delivered... Police have it and are holding it as evidence so once I get it back we'll see how it goes

 

[NHGuy]

When you bar turned the drive did it turn at all or did it stick? I see you wrote the prop did not turn, but did the input drive shaft turn? To check whether the drive is sending power to the propshaft you also need the shift foot going straight ahead. That's the angle that puts it in forward gear. And as you face the drive from the boat side, you need to turn the shaft clockwise.

 

[Fishermark]

We'll I pulled the outdrive and wedged a bar in at the top u joint and was unable to turn the prop so I'm guessing coupler it is.

Actually that rules out a bad coupler.... if I am understanding you correctly. If you removed the outdrive from the boat and turned the shaft WITH THE OUTDRIVE IN GEAR and prop didn't move, then you have internal problems in the outdrive. Obviously if the outdrive is in neutral then the prop will not move.

Since you do not have the outdrive in front of you, you can at least look at the coupler. Look through the opening where the outdrive is installed and see if you can tell what condition it is in. If the splines are gone, then it is a clue that the coupler is bad. (A coupler can go bad other ways.... but that is at least an easy visual check).

Let us know what you find.