What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

[scottkanderson]

The reason I am asking is because sometimes on the lake, when I go to start off, it will just rev up like it is in neutral without the clunk or feel of it going into gear. It will do this a few times, and then it will go into gear. Last time it happened, I thought I was going to have to paddle to the dock.<br /><br />Now that I have it apart, the water pump shaft splines are very warn. If this were to spin would it cause it to rev up without the clunk sound, and act like it was in neutral?<br /><br />If this is not the cause , how about a bad clutch dog? I just want to know what to look for as long as I have it apart. I have not been able to get into the lower unit yet, because I need to find a big snap ring pliers. I did have a lot of water in the lower unit oil and some very fine metal shavings came out.<br /><br />I did have a lot of water in the top unit, and the gears in there are in perfect shape, so I hope for the best in the lower.<br /><br />So, any help as to what could cause this would be greatly apreciated. Or is it just a shift cable adjustment when I get it back on?

 

[dodge1971340]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

Hi telluride. Im not real sure but you should have a shift iterrupter moduel witch kills the motor temperaly when you shift into gear and with it reving up and slaming it in gear you prob riped somthing out but im not 100% sure if you have it with the stringer i have the omc cobra. is it hard to get into neutral after its in gear do you have to shut it off to do so then its the moduel. and if you have water in the top you prob got water in the lower. i would definatly have it pressure tested. hope i helped and God bless!!! Dodge

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

"OMC Stringer" tells us very little - there were a half dozen OMC drives from 1964 - 1986 that were called Stringers...some electric, some mechanical, some hydros..<br />Need info.

 

[KaGee]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

The engine should not be "reving" while shifting. If your cables are out of adjustment and you are shifting at a higher RPM than idle that would cause your "Clunk".<br /><br />Shift RPMs should be between 650-700 tops.<br /><br />Like Hystat said... what year???

 

[scottkanderson]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

Sorry, its a 1986, last yr of the stinger, and I don't mean a big clunk, I mean the feel you get when it goes into gear. Sometimes it does not do this, and just revs up as it is in neutral. What could cause this. Shift RPMs is at 700.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

shift cable problem, or mechanical problem in lower unit.<br />The shift cable is connected to a mechanism in the lower unit that actually moves a gear, which slides into mesh with the output gear to turn the propshaft.

 

[KaGee]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

I would get a manual and go over the procedure for checking out your shift cable and throttle cable adjustments. If I understand your post correctly, the engine is starting to rev before you get it quite in gear?

 

[scottkanderson]

Re: What causes the clunk noise when shifiting into gear (OMC Stringer)

I guess I worded it wrong, sometimes it will not go into gear at all, just acts like it is in neutral. Most of the time it just does this once, and then starts acting normal. The last time, it was like 15 times, then was normal again. It just don't wanna get stranded in the middle of the lake. I will have to readjust the cable anyway, when I put it back on the boat.