Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

[rayaustin]

I have a 1990 Force 150 that has the skeg broken off the bottom of the gearcase. There is about 3 inches left on the end closest to the boat, and the break tapers up towards the gearcase as it goes back towards the prop. the problem is that when the skeg broke, it took a triangle chunk out of the bottom of the gearcase on the prop end. the chunk is about 1 1/2 inches wide at the back, and tapers to a point as you go towards the boat end of the gearcase. there is about a 1/4 inch gap behind the piece steel piece that is threaded into the gearcase which the prop shaft goes through, where water can enter into the bottom of the gearcase. my question is, how big of a problem is this? if the seals are ok inside the gearcase, does water going into that compartment affect anything? i know i can have a new skeg welded on, but can i have the bottom of the gearcase patched? please help!

 

[Deerdog]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

ibd12c,<br />I would imagine it could be fixed as you say as long a a good welder does it. YOu definitely do not want water in your gearcase. I bet you could find a lower end (at least the shell)for that motor pretty reasonable. I also run a Force 150 which was why I was replying. What do you have it on, what prop do you run. You dont see too many of the Force 150's around. Where are you at in VA. I am from south central Va (on Kerr/buggs Island Lake) but currently live in Concord NC. My boat (89 Arriva) is at the lake and stays there. My folks still live on the lake.<br /><br />Hope you can get the thing fixed<br /><br />Deerdog<br />I did have to rebuild the motor in 94 and really didnt have any problems until the end of last summer when I ended up replacing a stator (intermittent cutting out).

 

[rayaustin]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

i live near the tn/va border...near bristol. its on a 1990 Bayliner Cobra. the engine looks new, very few hours on it, and runs great. the main reason i want the skeg replaced is to protect the prop, which is oem. i was told that the hole on the bottom wouldn't hurt anything because the compartment with the oil and gears is in the front part, towards the boat, and separated from the back part. nothing leaks from the hole, and the oil, when changed, doesn't look like is has any water in it. so i assumed it was true about it being sealed off. i have emailed countless marinas, used parts dealers, and no one has an empty gearcase to fit it. most have recommended having it welded, and said it would be much, much cheaper than a replacement case. you don't have an extra lying around over there, do ya? haha

 

[rayaustin]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

anybody know any details on gearcase workings? does the prop end of the gearcase have a compartment for the exhaust, while the front end contains the gears and lube?

 

[Deerdog]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

I will check around. There is a boat shop at the lake that works on Force motors and he may have an old hulk laying around. If I am not mistaken the 125 and 150 are the same lower end. The owner is a good friend of the family which saved me some money last year with my stator problems.<br /><br />I still would get that thing fixed. True the oil and gearcase is toward the front but there is still a seal between the hole and the front of the lower end. I would imagine that the water coming in both sitting still and during operation will eventually cause problems.<br /><br />What does you motor redline at. With a 21 pitch SS prop mine will redline at 5300 but will go a bit further to like 5600. At that rpm I am doing around 50 with a normal load in the boat (fuel, junk). I did strip it down, wax it all up and tried it last year on a nearly empty tank. It hit 54 at 5500 rpm.<br /><br />I will do some checking as I remember he had quite a pile of junk behind the shop.<br /><br />Deerdog

 

[sony2001]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

Have you checked the shaft for straightness since the skeg was torn off? Any new vibration will encougage a leak.

 

[rayaustin]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

thanks...i'm not really sure. the prop is a quicksilver oem replacement, so i'm sure it'd do better with a ss speed prop. i have a problem with the boat wanted to porpoise before it gets trimmed up to max rpms. part of that may be exhaust leaking from the bottom. but i've had it to around 50 at about 5100 rpm before it starts bouncing too much.

 

[rayaustin]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

the shaft seems to be straight, looks good when spinning the prop anyhow.

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

Ibd12c, traditionally if you have a break on a skeg within 1 inch of the torpedo [round part] you are a candidate for a replacement gear housing...if you actually have a chunk blown out of the bottom of the torpedo, I dont think you have much choice...the housing has been severly weakened....

 

[alcan]

Re: Skeg and Gearcase Trouble

Hello ibd12c <br /> Sounds like your faced with a challenge. I don't know what the used market is for your lower unit. Your broken unit could be welded with no problem, if? Your lucky and there is no more damage than you describe. If you can find the right artist with the tig welder. If the cost of welding dosen,t excede replacement. You will have to disassemble the l\u to repair. If you decide to go this route heed ODD1's advice and inspect carefuly. Look for more cracks and make sure the housing is not bent. Good luck, let us know how it turns out.