Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

[dan4081]

Decided to take out my 86 Bayliner Capri with a 86 Force 85hp engine.
This would be the first time the boat has been used all season. Decided to put it on muffs and start it at home this week and let it run for a bit. As usual it started right up and ran fine.
Fast forward to today, before going to the ramp wanted to run it on muffs again to make sure there would be no surprises at the ramp.
Again, started great.

Now the problems....
Dropped boat at ramp, started right up. Shifted in to reverse and nothing happened, just a bit of a rattling sound like gears trying to engage but it didnt move at all.
Then tried putting it into forward and it instantly stalls everytime its shifted forward. Not talking a low idle type stall, but a hard stop as if instead of shifting I was turning it off.

Pulled it out of the water and on the trailer tried turning the prop by hand. The prop will barely turn one direction, but takes a lot of effort. Tried moving the shift lever forward and back and still prop is tight.

Lastly, tried putting it on muffs at home and same thing...no reverse and instant stall in forward.
Didnt have any problem like this last season.

Sorry for the long story but didnt want to leave anything out...I have searched all over iboats and cant figure this one out.

Any ideas? Thanks....

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

Anyone mess with it during the off season and possibly switch throttle/shifter cables?

 

[dan4081]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

No, nothing was touched this off season.
Thanks

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

It's time to check the lower unit. First drain the oil to a clean container so you can inspect it later. After draining, check color and if it's milky or too far off from normal or hard to see through it, thin it with thinner or even kerosene. Ran the oil to a fine sieve or even muslin cloth to check for metal filings. If there is significant amount of fine metal filings (less than 1/8" or a single metal filing that is 1/8" or larger) it's time to overhaul the gear unit.

If there is no metal filing or even better the oil looks normal, then remove the lower unit anyways and inspect the lower shift rod. My practice every year in late spring when I get my boat ready is to remove the spark plugs, spray sea foam into the cylinders, rotate by hand and then re-install the plugs.

Before installing the plugs, I'll drain a sample of the lower unit oil (replaced in fall before storage) to make sure winter didn't push water in or even with condensation. If the oil looks good, refill it then I am ready to fire the engine. Even with muffs I test the shifting in fwd and reverse (without revving it) just to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

Profile,location?? Freeze zone?
Like Jiggz says check the oil.

 

[dan4081]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

Profile,location?? Freeze zone?
Like Jiggz says check the oil.

Not too far from you Jerry....Im in St Pete Florida.

Looks like my first step will be to check the oil!
Im just confused because it ran fine before being parked.

Thanks for the replys everyone.....

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

If it set up with water in it for any longer than a month,it could have siezed the bearings.
How long did it set?

 

[dan4081]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

If it set up with water in it for any longer than a month,it could have siezed the bearings.
How long did it set?

It sat for about 6 months.

 

[dan4081]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

Drained the oil and filtered it today and it was very clean.
Found what 'possibly' was some tiny tiny metal....by tiny I mean smaller than the width of a hair.
And only a few of these. I was actually surprised how little there was in there.

 

[tcraft1]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

First thing I would do is remove the shift linkage at the motor and see if you can manually shift into forward and reverse, that way you can isolate it to either the motor or control box before you start tearing it apart.

 

[dan4081]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

First thing I would do is remove the shift linkage at the motor and see if you can manually shift into forward and reverse, that way you can isolate it to either the motor or control box before you start tearing it apart.

Already tried that...and no go.
Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

The next step is to drop the lower unit. However, you can also opt to turn the flywheel by hand first. Remove all plugs, turn the flywheel clockwise (looking from the top) it should rotate freely. Manually engage gear (with lower shift gear disconnected) fwd (shift gear moves down) rotate flywheel again, it will still move although with a little resistance, and the prop should turn also.

If it becomes too heavy or worse yet cannot move with gear engaged; drop lower unit open and inspect. After dropping, you can remove the water impeller assembly first and test for free rotation again with gear engaged. It could just be the impeller jammed. This will be an easier repair compare to damaged gears and clutch dogs.

 

[dan4081]

Re: Reverse And Forward Problems-'86 Force 85HP---Please Read

Which leads to my newest problem...cant get the lower to drop.
See here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=553947