OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

[Flatwater&Go!]

On a 1979 26' wooden Sabercraft with a 305. Although it engages in gear at idle, when you give it the gas to get up and go, it slips out of gear and makes the most horrible sound. A very loud clanking and banging.From what I've read here at this forum, I think it might be the clutch dog. This means getting ready to haul and store a heavy wooden boat. I would really like to fix it without having to haul it.

Questions: Any ideas of what to check? Could it be voltage drop or a messed up magnet? The problem is the same for both forwards and reverse. The oil in the outdrive is clean and to level. The idle is good, the engine was rebuilt a few years ago, so runs well. I would hope that if they did the engine, they didn't forget about the outdrive, but I do not know.

Thanks to all of you helpful folks. A community of like minds!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

1977 was the last year for electric shift drives - no dogs in those
1978 was the first year for 400 and 800 series drives utilizing clutch dogs.

clutch dogs and electric shift never were in the same drive, so first need to know year, model number or see a pic

Regardless, any stringer mount drive can be removed/installed on a beach in shallow water or backed up to a ramp without hauling the boat out.

Having a spare drive for a boat like that would be advisable. So you can rebuild one and alternate them.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

It could also be a stripped water pump shaft. The prop will turn at idle speeds, but as soon as you give it gas it will start slipping and make a racket. It's important to keep them well greased at the fitting about 1/2 way up on the front of the leg under a plastic cap.

 

[SeanMcl]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

Having a spare drive for a boat like that would be advisable. So you can rebuild one and alternate them.

Why not just get a spare boat at that point?

Wish I could help out on the tech here, don't forget the mechanical shift mechanism. Although if it stays in gear till you apply power, and the pops out with a bang it sounds like the clutch dog isn't holding.

As for which drive you have, I believe the V8 motors got the 800 series outdrive, and the 4 and 6 cylinder engines used the 400 series outdrive. What motor is powering your vessel?

/hehe. I said vessel.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

Why not just get a spare boat at that point?

not a bad idea.

I stopped at this though (my outdrive shed):

 

[SeanMcl]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

Wow, Howard. Nothings gonna keep you off the water! You don't happen to have a spare starboard pivot end cap that fits an electric stringer do you? I would like to drill a hole for a hose fitting on mine, but I can't bring myself to drill mine with out a spare just in case I screw it up.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

don't drill anything, just buy one of these kits for $5.99
The flushing tee allows you to check impeller in the lake! can't do that with those water director adapters.
I don't understand the love for those things at all.

at idle, I just loosen the pink cap and make sure I get a good spray
on land, I just hook the hose to it.

 

[SeanMcl]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

don't drill anything, just buy one of these kits for $5.99.

How did I not know about this before? Many Thanks!

 

[Flatwater&Go!]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

Thanks! Slow to respond...mother is ill so had to go...The pink slip says 1979, and I know it's an electric shift because the second time I drove it reverse didn't work. I looked in the engine compartment, saw 2 wires disconnected and hanging, connected them and reverser worked. It looks like an 8th grader put the wiring harness on. And it's pretty chewed up.

I took apart an Evinrude electric shift once. Very ingenious but scary; seems like too many things could go wrong.

I don't need it out of the water? It was as I was doing the following that someone told me I was wasting my time: I put two 50gallon drums on the front, and sank 4 white plastic 50gal. under the rear end. Having lashed them together, and then to the boat, I blew air into them while I filled the front barrels with water. The result? Rear end 1-2 feet higher. I thought I could put a safety net or screen under the outdrive just in case. The boat is in a covered shed, so I can use my electric winch....so...really? I can drop it right there? I've got a guy who told me to bring it in, and we'll take it apart on the spot and fix it.

 

[Flatwater&Go!]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

Thank you Sean: Getting a spare outdrive is like insurance...if something goes wrong you win! It's like betting something bad will happen. Besides, this is only one of many boats, so gets driven mainly when daughters or girlfriend are here.

The engine is 305, which is the Chevy rat motor, going back to it's racing days.

 

[Flatwater&Go!]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

Howard...you the man! So that's what that radiator flush 't' is for: to check the water pump. Btw, I can drive the boat just above idle, so one day I took it out for about 3 hours. There was no overheating. * * * *
An additional boat? That's what I think, but my girlfriend keeps commenting that 7 is enough. And the marina owner keeps trying to charge me for as many as he can count. I live on a houseboat, have the 26' Sabercraft for outings, the rest being aluminum, fiberglass, or raft. I recently attached a water ski to the bottom of a raft, put in a hard floor and trim tabs, overpowered 200%, and away we go! Hydorfoils are next. But for now, whether or not I get the boat out of the water or in the covered slip, Questions: 1) is whatever wrong most likely be in the outdrive itself, or should I be prepared to work on the boat side. 2) What's the one most likely thing it would be.
3) If there was water in the oil, it would be cloudy. It's clear, but I will double check. I assume that as the oil is clean, it was serviced when the engine was rebuilt. If it was the wrong oil, would it have worked at all? I assume I have the correct oil since it has been working. Did you know that there are labs you can take your oil to to have it analyzed?
Thank you sir for you diligence and contribution to this site. This is my first time doing this on the computer.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

the drive can be removed on a beach on any 1964-1985 OMC sterndrive. 1964-1977 will require electric harness disconnection and removal. 1978-1985 will require removal of shift cable.

Only thing is after removing the drive, you need to plug the shift cable or shift wire harness hole in the intermediate as that hole will be under water. Plug that hole, and the boat can float all summer sans outdrive.

 

[Flatwater&Go!]

Re: OMC electric shift failure makes loud clunk!

ahhhhhhhl...errrr. hello againl....surprise! I just went and got out my box of pink slips. 5 are for boats and I have 2 boats with no title. Sooo...I had noticed the disparity between my boat's year and inforation presented. It's a 1970 Sabercraft. I've only had it for two months. It was an abandoned boat at our marina (there are about 15). It had sat for years, and performed several trips and a a few buoy and boat rescues/tow home before this happened. And yes, I take it pretty easy, but do crank it up to 3000 -3200 rpm for 60 seconds. Howard and Sean you were right about having an extra stern drive. If I lift the rear end out with barrels, I probably want to put the new drive on right away. I'll get a rebuild and slide it on up in there. I'm in a shed but the Sacramento Rver is flowing at an angle at a pretty good rate. (45 feet deep) Any tips besides have a piece of cyclone fence as a safety net. Never had the OMC experience before, any warnings?