1982 850 Merc Help!!!

[Lake Dweller]

Took the boat out of storage to test run with muffs, Moter runs great but prop wont turn.<br />Everything worked fine last year, even tested<br />pryor to storage. Need some Direction!!!

 

[12Footer]

Re: 1982 850 Merc Help!!!

Welcome to iboats.<br />Being a lifelong Floridian redneck Florida-Cracker-type,I've never had to winterise. But from what I've learned here, water freezing in the lower unit can ruin a lower unit by the expansion and contraction. Drain the L/U into a pan,and see if it has water or contaminated lube.It will be actual water,or the lube will look like a peanutbutter milkshake,or grey milkshake.<br />Run a finger thru the drained lube,and feel for chunks of metal.<br />If the prop will allow you to idle,but slips at any type of throttle, you have a spun hub in the prop,and you can have it repaired at a prop shop.<br /><br />If you don't have any contamination,and there are no chunks of metal (the size of a grain of sugar or larger),refill the L/U and use new VENT/FILL screw gaskets.<br />If it HAS contamination, the lower unit has been damaged by the freeze.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: 1982 850 Merc Help!!!

Did you observe the shift linkage under the engine cover while shifting from nuetral to forward and reverse while running? Did the cable pop off etc?

 

[Lake Dweller]

Re: 1982 850 Merc Help!!!

Update , I drained the lower unit and only a<br />couple of drops of lube exited, as I put new lube in pryor to storage, I am assuming it has leaked out onto my lawn were the boat sat all winter.<br />So it is aparent I have a seal problem.<br />But shouldent it still have went into gear <br />without any lube in the lower unit??? <br />As I am always learning, I will not again assume<br />lube will stay in the lower unit all winter!!!<br />I dont believe I dammaged anything as I only ran the moter long enough to conclude it would not go in gear???

 

[suzukidave]

Re: 1982 850 Merc Help!!!

Why are you putting the boat in gear on muffs in the first place? It's very dangerous and bad for your motor and lower end (can overrev). <br /><br />If your lower unit leaked out completely from anywhere but the fill or flush holes (did you tighten it properly and replace the seal washers?) then you're going to have to take the bottom end apart.