Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

[float my boat]

Hi all,
The title pretty much says it all. Over the course of about 6 take-offs trying to get a skier up, first there was a barely perceivable lag between leaving neutral and going into forward. By the sixth take-off it was obvious something was wrong, rpm's going up with no engagement. It eventually engaged and was able to be driven onto the trailer. I disconnected the linkage and it still won't engage in forward. What is really bothering me is the boat mechanic I took it to keeps mentioning the coupler as being a possibility and that the teeth can get sheared off in one direction(forward) but still engage in reverse. This has to be a one directional connection. The coupler isn't effected any differently if the outdrive is going into forward or reverse, correct? This is the dealer we bought the boat from but I'm losing faith because the head mechanic keeps mentioning the coupler. Am I nuts?

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Nobody? Cliff notes: Boat has reverse-how can the problem be the drive coupler?

 

[TIGERSHARKMAN]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

I had the same problem with my bravo one set up. Needed a coupler. Splines wore out in one direction.

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

You had reverse? Why can't I wrap my head around this? The coupler rotates in one direction only. There should be NO power to the outdrive if the coupler is shot, no?

 

[tkrfxr]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

You had reverse? Why can't I wrap my head around this? The coupler rotates in one direction only. There should be NO power to the outdrive if the coupler is shot, no?

Yup...the coupler moves only in ine direction, the shift mechanism (cable to linkage) or the gears in the outdrive would be my next guess....especially if you have normal engagement of the reverse gear...

Get the outdrive manual and look at the entire system before anyone takes anything apart.

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Yup...the coupler moves only in ine direction, the shift mechanism (cable to linkage) or the gears in the outdrive would be my next guess....especially if you have normal engagement of the reverse gear...

Get the outdrive manual and look at the entire system before anyone takes anything apart.

I have, to the best of my limited ability. I'm thinking cone clutch. Also, the gear oil is clean, no signs of metal bits.

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Remove the plastic cover off the back of the drive. Then start the engine on muffs and shift forward and reverse. Does the shift mechanism move all the way into gear both ways? If it doesn't go into reverse, see if you can move the shift mechanism further to move it into gear. Keep your feet out of the props.

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Remove the plastic cover off the back of the drive. Then start the engine on muffs and shift forward and reverse. Does the shift mechanism move all the way into gear both ways? If it doesn't go into reverse, see if you can move the shift mechanism further to move it into gear. Keep your feet out of the props.

Yes, I've done this. The results are the same-good, positive reverse and no forward. I then removed the assembly/cover of the gearbox and with my finger on the cone clutch and manually turning the prop can get reverse to engage with the slightest effort and still get nothing in forward.

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

You have internal problems with the drive. You need to find a Volvo dealer (NOT that jerk that thinks it's the coupler) :facepalm:
It takes special tools to do the job right.

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

That IS the VP dealer.

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Was that actually a tech you was talking to, or the counter guy? The counter guys aren't the ones to be asking questions to, they look up parts and take your money and if it's like most places I've worked have no real clue what your problem is.

If it was a tech, you might want to talk to the owner, if it was the owner .................. might want to talk to a certified tech.

 

[TIGERSHARKMAN]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

i apologize I looked at the repair order i had a bad coupler and had no drive forward or reverse when I thought about it afterward and felt like an idiot. I had a problem right after that I had no forward or but had reverse.That was from a cable. Your issue makes no sense as the engine only spins one way. The shifting is controlled in the drive.

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Was that actually a tech you was talking to, or the counter guy? The counter guys aren't the ones to be asking questions to, they look up parts and take your money and if it's like most places I've worked have no real clue what your problem is.

If it was a tech, you might want to talk to the owner, if it was the owner .................. might want to talk to a certified tech.

That was the lead tech, the guy running the shop I've been dealing with. We bought the boat there and I'd like them to do the work, but this coupler thing is concerning me. I called the tech and was adamant that I didn't think it was a coupler. He said they'd start at the prop and work backwards towards the engine. Sheesh. And this shop is 50+ miles from me. No local VP dealers.

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

i apologize I looked at the repair order i had a bad coupler and had no drive forward or reverse when I thought about it afterward and felt like an idiot. I had a problem right after that I had no forward or but had reverse.That was from a cable. Your issue makes no sense as the engine only spins one way. The shifting is controlled in the drive.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

I don't have an answer, but I can tell you my opinion of your dealer. He sounds like a hack, one of those that will start throwing parts at it until he gets it right. At your expense.

The problem has to be in getting the shift cone into the gear. Since you can't even do this by hand, it will have to come apart to inspect the shift cone and the gear cone.
Below is a link to the manual so you can read it and get an idea of what it takes to do the job.

http://www.4shared.com/file/50982625/e2bdb42c/SX_DP-S_Service_Manual.html

 

[float my boat]

Re: Outdrive has reverse but no forward.

Thanks for the link, Don and thanks to everyone else who responded. Now to find someone who can fix this thing.