duped
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2009
- Messages
- 307
Hello, as some of you may remember, I had some troubles with leaking drive bellows on my '73 888. I decided to do it right, and replaced the lower shift cable with the new style OEM mercruiser cable while I was at it. Got everything back together with basically no struggle, adjusted the cable and and got it to shift w/o engine running, but now im a bit worried I either put something together wrong, or I blew the drive today.
I had it running on the muffs today, it fired right up, but due to carb issues, it had a high idle ( around 2000 RPM ). While I was playing with the adjustment screws, my buddy mentioned a squeeking sound like a belt coming from the drive. I shut it down, and restarted it. Then we both noticed a knocking sound coming from the drive. It sounded similar to a diesel engine, but it definitely was NOT the motor. It just sounded "rough" i guess. Then before I could even shut it down, its almost like the drive stalled the engine. I never even tried to restart it after that.
First things first, I played with the shift cable, and now regardless of how much I play with the adjustment, I can get reverse and neutral, but forward just clicks when I spin the prop. When I pull on the shift shaft on the lower unit, it will catch forward, but if I spin the prop the other way and turn it back, it will just click and keep spinning. Its like it wants to engage, but doesnt quite go enough. When the shifter is in forward, the shift shaft is straight just like it should be.
We took the cable off from where it mounts to the engine and worked it by hand, and still could only get reverse and neutral. Also in reverse the prop wont spin one direction, and spins very tough the other way. I seem to remember it would spin free before in that direction.
So I drained the lower unit oil, and it drained clean. But aside from that I dont know what to check, or what to do. This boat is taking me for just about all I have.
Any opinions? I'm thinking on pulling the drive and making sure the cable is on good. But for some reason I think its worse. Although everything worked before I took it apart...
Thanks!!!
I had it running on the muffs today, it fired right up, but due to carb issues, it had a high idle ( around 2000 RPM ). While I was playing with the adjustment screws, my buddy mentioned a squeeking sound like a belt coming from the drive. I shut it down, and restarted it. Then we both noticed a knocking sound coming from the drive. It sounded similar to a diesel engine, but it definitely was NOT the motor. It just sounded "rough" i guess. Then before I could even shut it down, its almost like the drive stalled the engine. I never even tried to restart it after that.
First things first, I played with the shift cable, and now regardless of how much I play with the adjustment, I can get reverse and neutral, but forward just clicks when I spin the prop. When I pull on the shift shaft on the lower unit, it will catch forward, but if I spin the prop the other way and turn it back, it will just click and keep spinning. Its like it wants to engage, but doesnt quite go enough. When the shifter is in forward, the shift shaft is straight just like it should be.
We took the cable off from where it mounts to the engine and worked it by hand, and still could only get reverse and neutral. Also in reverse the prop wont spin one direction, and spins very tough the other way. I seem to remember it would spin free before in that direction.
So I drained the lower unit oil, and it drained clean. But aside from that I dont know what to check, or what to do. This boat is taking me for just about all I have.
Any opinions? I'm thinking on pulling the drive and making sure the cable is on good. But for some reason I think its worse. Although everything worked before I took it apart...
Thanks!!!
