76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

[Alrobot]

I just got my drive back together after replacing the forward clutch spring. Took it to the local lake, and when I got out of the no wake zone I throttled it. The bow started to rise and when it hit about 2000 rpm it settled back into the water as if it was in neutral. I did this probably 30 times to no avail. I was able to putt around the ski course once at about 1750 rpm, but anything above that put it right back down to neutral. I checked both coils and gear clusters. It seemes to do it in reverse also. I have a vibration too. I am going to have the prop checked tomorrow, could that somehow knock it out of gear? Any help or advice, besides "you should have bought a Merc" would be greatly appreciated.

 

[almost retired again]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

Hi Al,<br />You might check the voltages on the shift wires under the hood at the RPM's that it cut's out at. If you are loosing the voltage this would cause the problem.If it isn't that then I would check the knurled hubs that the springs rides over,if they are wore dow this can also be a problem.

 

[Alrobot]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

Thanks, I will check the voltage when I get home. I know what your saying about the knurls on the hub, the felt pretty good, sharp, to me, I have been unable to find any specs or advice in the manual about these though.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

Look at the prop hub for slippage..... <br />I doubt the problem is electrical, as forward gear requires NO VOLTAGE APPLIED....<br />

 

[Alrobot]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

You may be thinking of the later model OMC, this one has a coil for forward and one for reverse. I didn't get a chance to try it tonight but I will give it a try tomorrow.

 

[Trent]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

Schematic is correct.. These units go to "fail safe" when power is lost. Thats why you can see the prop turn when cranking sometimes till hydrolic pressure is built up to take it out of gear.<br /><br />The "fail safe" feature is provided so that you can get back to the dock if the coil fails. In other words the coil has to work to take it out of foward, Not put it into foward.<br /><br />Have the prop hub checked as Schematic said.

 

[Alrobot]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

I will ask the boat shop about the prop hub today after work. hopefully I didn't mess something up when I put the oil in.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

Schematic,<br />The '76 electric shift drive needs a constant 2 amps and 12volts to hold the spring in so it will "wrap" around the knurled hub. The '78 drives were not electric shift, but hydaulically assisted mechanical shift. Only some of the outboards, not stern drives, had from '68 thru '72 had the "bang into forward" electical solenoid valved hydraulically shifted gearcases that did not need 12V for forward gear.<br /><br />Whenever a spring is changed, the hub should be replaced, also to avoid slippage. Make sure to use the OMC (Bombardier) Premium Blend gear oil, and not any other type.

 

[Alrobot]

Re: 76 OMC Electric Shift Comes out of Gear

I would like to thank all of you for your advice. I spun a prop hub, I didn't realize what you were talking about until I looked at it myself. Sure enough, I need a new hub. Luckily the boat came with 3 props. I just got back from the local lake, beat last launch by 10 minutes. Man does she run SWEET. I have good voltage, water temp and oil pressure. Thanks again.