OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

[JOHN HARTER]

Crusing around waiting for my wife I realized that I forgot to put in the plug (duhh!!!). Water filled up to the base of the engine block bofore I plugged the hole and turned on the bilge pump. Then I lost reverse first and shortly after forward. Any suggestions on trouble shooting process? I didn't have any issues until water was introduced in the bilge.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

That boat must be a i/o, I can't see how getting water in the boat could affect the lower unit, drain the lower unit catch what comes out and see if there is metal in it, make sure your shift linkage is moving at the out drive.

 

[moderator1]

Re: OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

Moving to I/O questions.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

You haven't said what generation OMC outdrive you have. 77 and earlier will be electric shift. 78 and later will be cable shift. Either way, a bilge full of water should not affect shifting. It sounds like your problem is coincidental to the flooding.

 

[skicat]

Re: OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

I had that exact same engine and outdrive once. It is a 302 Ford 190HP with an electromatic OMC sterndrive. I also had the same problem. The source of my problem was a loss of current to the sterndrive caused by a broken wire. If you have lost both forward and reverse it could be loss of ground or the water could have shorted your wiring causing forward and reverse to engage at the same time. If this happened you may have considerable damage.

 

[JOHN HARTER]

Re: OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

Thanks skicat, I did find a wire that was corroded and actually fell apart when I picked it up. It's definately electric shift. Hopefully it's just loss of ground which I'll check for. If I engaged forward and reverse at the same time wouldn't there have heard something?

 

[skicat]

Re: OMC 190, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE

If they both engaged you would have heard a bad sound from a shaft breaking and or the engine stalling. If all was quiet you probably just have an open wire. If a wire fell apart in your hand, I think you found the problem. Good Luck.