Motor in or out of gear?

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fire831

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 26, 2002
Messages
373
When your towing your boat, do you put the motor in gear or leave it out? I was told once that it's best to put it in gear so the prop won't be spinning while your going down the road. I have also been told though it is not good to shift the motor in and out of gear while it's not running. ???
 
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lmannyr

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Jul 5, 2007
Messages
815
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

I've never heard anything about this subject before. I'll say though a spinning prop that is not in gear, is neutral. I know I stated the obvious but the prop is just spinning without meshing.

Thats sounds confusing anyhow, I'll bet that most of us do NOT put the drives in gear to tow. For those that have a malfunctioning safety neutral switch, placing it in gear could pose a hazard.

Just my thoughts.
 
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TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

Out of gear. Why in the world would it hurt a prop to turn in the wind? And have you ever followed a towed boat before? The prop doesn't turn.
Whoever told you to put it in gear is a fool who is easily B.S.'ed. Does he want to buy a great van I have for sale? Only $2000 and it's a peach!

Oh wait, I just realized who you are. Did one of the brilliant minds at boatingabc tell you that? Was it Admin, or GFC, or FLB, or Wet Dogggg?

You should not shift an outdrive into gear while it's not running. Especially a Volvo or a Bravo series.

You are overthinking this one. Just tow it!
 
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fire831

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Aug 26, 2002
Messages
373
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

TilliamWe said:
Out of gear. Why in the world would it hurt a prop to turn in the wind? And have you ever followed a towed boat before? The prop doesn't turn.
Whoever told you to put it in gear is a fool who is easily B.S.'ed. Does he want to buy a great van I have for sale? Only $2000 and it's a peach!

Oh wait, I just realized who you are. Did one of the brilliant minds at boatingabc tell you that? Was it Admin, or GFC, or FLB, or Wet Dogggg?

You should not shift an outdrive into gear while it's not running. Especially a Volvo or a Bravo series.

You are overthinking this one. Just tow it!
Click to expand...
Never heard of boatingabc, just a simple question, thanks for the replies.
 
redone4x4

redone4x4

Lieutenant Commander
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Feb 28, 2009
Messages
1,548
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

neutral has been working fine for us for 17 years now.....
 
109jb

109jb

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Jul 15, 2008
Messages
1,590
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

First of all, I run outboards. I generally leave them in neutral, but I had a boat that the trailering cover would not go on unless the throttle lever was put forward. I never had a problem either way in many many years.
 
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nimmor

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 15, 2003
Messages
313
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

On an outboard it is not good to shift without the motor running, it can break the u shaped horseshoe on the gears. I am curious what is boatingabc?
 
kenmyfam

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
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Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

Out of gear has worked for me so far but I am prepared to be educated otherwise.
 
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TilliamWe

Banned
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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

nimmor said:
On an outboard it is not good to shift without the motor running, it can break the u shaped horseshoe on the gears. I am curious what is boatingabc?
Click to expand...

And on a Bravo or a Volvo drive, shifting into gear without the engine running doesn't allow the cone clutches to function properly. You can actually get them stuck in gear if you do it. So don't.

Kenny, no education needed, leave the drive (or outboard) in neutral. Even if the prop spun around like those plastic hitch covers you all have (which they don't), remember, your outdrive (or outboard lower unit) is full of gear oil, thus lubricating the gears and everything, even while the motor is not running. Plus, the wind couldn't possibly spin your prop anywhere near as fast as the motor does, when in gear on the water.

boatingabc is a website that has a forum page, where there are some good guys and some know-it-alls. A LOT LESS techinical expertise on there than here on iboats. So if you want to talk about sports and cars and financial news and such, they are good to talk to. If you want to know about boats, and how to fix them, this is the place to be.
 
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TilliamWe

Banned
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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

fire831 said:
Never heard of boatingabc, just a simple question, thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...


Sorry, my mistake, your screen name is very similiar to someone's on there, who is also from Indiana. And leaving the drive in gear sounds like something that one of the less educated, more gullible members on that page would pass off as gospel.
 
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Edmac

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 15, 2007
Messages
31
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

I believe this info probably came from the Mercury Owners Manual, mine
states on page 34 under the instructions for trailering "Shift the outboard
into forward gear. This prevents the propeller from spinning freely."
Also, on page 52 of said manual it states "Do not shift outboard into
reverse when the engine is not running."
The way I do this on my 150 Optimax is when I load the boat on the
trailer, I just leave it in forward gear and turn the key off.
 
M

MudSkunk

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Apr 29, 2009
Messages
151
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

airflow really doesnt provide enough resistance to spin a boat prop while traveling at speed. when you are at anchor in a current the prop will turn slowly but there is harm going to happen to it. just notice the next time your ont he road and see someone towing your never going to see the prop spinning like a windmill.
 
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TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

Edmac said:
I believe this info probably came from the Mercury Owners Manual, mine
states on page 34 under the instructions for trailering "Shift the outboard
into forward gear. This prevents the propeller from spinning freely."
Click to expand...

Then it's official, someone at Mercury Marine is an idiot! Seriously, what a STUPID thing to put in the manual.

Mudskunk sees what I see, props don't spin on trailered boats. They just don't.
 
Splat

Splat

Lieutenant
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
1,366
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

Likewise on my 1995 25hp Merc the manual says to leave it in gear. I have been doing it like that for many years now, now problem. Never really thought about it before.

BIll
 
kenmyfam

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

I actually followed a boat on my drive to work this morning. At 80 kph (50 mph) the prop was turning really slowly. First time I have ever seen it.
 
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quackaddict1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
138
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

I saw the same thing tonight, looked like a 50hp class motor, prop a spinning in the wind.

I wouldn't worry about it though, if anything I think the boys at Mercury are more worried about distracting people behind you than damage.
 
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SS140

Banned
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Jun 3, 2009
Messages
92
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

I could picture stoners getting lost in the twirl of the spinning prop. ALL THE COLORS! LIKE A RAINBOW!
 
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Fl_Richard

Lieutenant
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
1,428
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

Maybe we dont see them spinning because everyone else has theirs in gear....

(I'm a spinner)
 
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tmcalavy

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 29, 2001
Messages
4,005
Re: Motor in or out of gear?

I trailer both my late-50s OMC Big Twins in N, prop spinning...helps the overall mpg on the road...gives me a little passing umph, too.
 
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