Hit a Huge Rock!

[garupert]

Hi All, Great Site!!

I was boating in very "Merky" water just about to get up to plane when I hit a huge rock! Aside from being very upset with myself, my prop took minimal damage, and the fin seems fine!

Mercury Sea Pro 25HP, 2008, ( I think it's a Tohatsu?? 2-Stroke)

When I hit this rock the boat almost stopped dead, the engine jarred up a little and right away the engine shut off! I inspected, and started it up again to notice a clicking sound that wasn't there before. It sounds like a ratchet turning. I don't notice any performance, or power loss. Just this clicking sound that is starting to concern me! Is there some sort of safety feature built in? Did I knock it loose to cause this clicking sound?

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

Concerned and worried, -Geoff.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Hit a Huge Rock!

No safety feature that makes an engine click....Take it into a dealer and have it checked for damage.

 

[garupert]

Re: Hit a Huge Rock!

Thanks for the Reply Guru!

The reason I thought it was a safety feature is because the engine cut off right away, didn't sputter to a stop, just cut off!

So I guess my next question, where should I be looking for damage? Other than the obvious, do I drop the lower gear unit? And what to look for?

Thanks for your help!! -Geoff.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Hit a Huge Rock!

Pull the lower unit and start the engine (but only briefly because it has no water for cooling). If the noise is still there, it's in the power head. If not, it's in the lower unit.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Hit a Huge Rock!

I would recommend taking it into a dealer rather than dropping it yourself and peeking inside.. Checking tolerances is an art.