starter lockout with rams full out

[Stetson]

What locks out the starter with rams full out (trailering)? I have a1989 Alpha one 3.7 ci. with the trim and trailer switches on the shifter arm.

 

[H20Rat]

What locks out the starter with rams full out (trailering)? I have a1989 Alpha one 3.7 ci. with the trim and trailer switches on the shifter arm.

Nothing... Never heard of a lock out, but not impossible I guess.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

You shouldn't be trying to start the engine with the drive fully up also.

 

[Stetson]

You shouldn't be trying to start the engine with the drive fully up also.

I guess what I should have asked was, what if someone was to accidentally try to start the motor with the drive in the full up position?

 

[Stetson]

Nothing... Never heard of a lock out, but not impossible I guess.

what prevents someone from accidentally try to start the motor with the drive in the full up position?

 

[Scott Danforth]

what prevents someone from accidentally try to start the motor with the drive in the full up position?

nothing

Its up to the operator to know what they are doing

 

[Stetson]

So it must not be a huge deal if the engine is accidentally turned on with the outdrive in trailering mode. My drive and driven gears failed last week without warning. The gear grease was topped off this spring.
The u-joints had slight play. Just trying to figure out what could of happened.
Thank you all for your quick response! I don't know what we would do without your generosity and knowledge.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Exactly how did the gear fail ,broken pieces or melted flat

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Having the drive fully up and running the engine wouldn't change the clearances on the upper gears or damage them. I'd be more afraid of damaging the u joints, or inner bell housing from the u joints hitting them or damage to the u joint bellows from being hit, but I couldn't say what would be damaged. I'd think the upper gears would get wiped out from running it low on gear oil due to a drive leak.

 

[Scott Danforth]

So it must not be a huge deal if the engine is accidentally turned on with the outdrive in trailering mode.

Wrong. Its up to the operator to know what they are doing

 

[Stetson]

Exactly how did the gear fail ,broken pieces or melted flat

melted flat

 

[Scott06]

If your gears are gone I suspect the input shaft seal is leaking and you have no lube on the upper gears

You will hear a knocking from the ujoints if the drive is all the way up and the engine started. Is it great to run it that far up no just keep the rpms low.

I see a lot of posts about not running the drive all the way up but my family has had a cottage in a shallow cove (25" deep at the dock) since the 1960's. Had three boats up there with a IC /EZshift (1966), Alpha One Gen one, and alpha One gen 2 and none of them have been damaged by running the drive almost all the way up - at or just above idle the five or so mintues it takes to get to deep water. I changed the ujoints on the gen 1 after 23 years due to a vibration...

 

[tank1949]

What locks out the starter with rams full out (trailering)? I have a1989 Alpha one 3.7 ci. with the trim and trailer switches on the shifter arm.

You have switches on both sides of OD that provide OD angle to helm gauge and limits the raising of OD as not to damage gimbal/drive. You should have a "trailing" switch too that bi-passes the limit switch. The limit switch requires adjusting per manual specifications. However, both switches go bad or wear out over time and should be replaced if defective. And, yes, it is a "job" replacing them.