my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

[taxijim]

Hello all. Well here's my problem. I was cruising at about 20 mph and suddenly my engine just slipped out of gear and wouldn't go anywhere in forward or reverse. Engine just revved. Thought perhaps I had lost a prop but prop was still on. I did not hit anything in the water. got out of boat and tried to turn prop by hand, it turned freely in neutral but would only turn 1 way in forward and the other way in reverse (with engine off of course) Is there some sort of shear pin in there that could have broken?Older (79) OMC sterndrive with gm 350 engine.

 

[SeanMcl]

Re: my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

If you have downloaded the Seloc manual from the "Adults Only" tech link, page 10-49 has some trouble shooting you can do on the shift mechanism.

It seems odd that, when you twist the prop by hand it seems connected, but won't move under its own power. Then again, the motor can put a lot more torque on that prop than you can. Maybe the prop is spinning in its rubber hub? I think the 79's had rubber hub props, but might be wrong on that.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

could be a spun hub in the prop, or water pump shaft spline

It's the shaft that connects the upper and lower halves of your outdrive. If the water pump impeller is neglected (not serviced every few seasons), the grease washes out of the splines and it fails.

 

[taxijim]

Re: my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

thank you all for the input. I have (sigh) taken boat to my local trusted boat shop and have been given a 10-12 day window just to be looked at. I have replaced engine and done other sorts of work but am too unfamiliar with sterndrives to attempt this one myself. Perhaps after I get diagnosis and price I will change my mind. thanks again.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

you don't have a spare prop you can throw on and go for a spin?

 

[PS94]

Re: my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

Migh just be the coupler at the engine, sounds as if it's going into gear ok?

 

[taxijim]

Re: my OMC sterndrive suddenly slipped out of gear and left me stranded

actually when putting it in gear it does NOT sound like it is engaging.