What's wrong with my outboard?

[nickandm]

Allright guys, I just replaced the impeller as of yesterday. The lower unit slid back into place more easily than I could have imagined. Last night I decided to go for a short ride on the lake just to make sure everything worked. It didn't. The motor started right up. Water came out the pee hole in a good stream, but when I shifted into forward nothing happened. I revved it a little bit but the boat never even moved. When in forward the prop will turn slowly, and as you rev the engine it doesn't speed up or slow down. When you shift it into neutral the prop stops and doesn't move at all. I'm lost. Can anybody please help me? Thanks - Nick

 

[CharlieB]

Re: What's wrong with my outboard?

Sorry Nick, but you're going to drop the LU again, depending on the make and model, index the shifter correctly and put it back together again, just a bit more carefully this time.

Can't tell you exactly which shifter you have without knowing, identifying your unit.

Once you're done, and ALWAYS before you dip it in the water, re-check shifting and gear engagement, you can do this without the engine running, just put it in gear and try to turn the prop, locks one way ratchets the other, then again try reverse, etc.

 

[nickandm]

Re: What's wrong with my outboard?

It is a 1996 3.3hp side shift with no reverse(360 degree turning radius). To reconnect the shift linkage I put the lower unit in neutral and the upper unit in neutral and connected the the two rods with the clamp thing. How can I do it differently? I've never gotten it to stop or rachet. - Nick

 

[diaric]

Re: What's wrong with my outboard?

drop it again, put your shifter in gear. turn shifter on lower unit carefully till in gear, will rotate drive shaft one way and click or rachet other, put back together. test that neutral and gear are working on shifter.

 

[nickandm]

Re: What's wrong with my outboard?

I think I have it figured out. Correct me if I'm wrong though. I tried all the upper suggestions to no avail. So I decided to remove the prop and have a looksee. Inside the prop there was a golden colored pin with threads on it. I'm guessing this was the shear pin? Right? If so, is there any trick to replacing them? How much are they? Can I make one out of a bolt? I pretty sure with this and gear lube for the lower unit I'll be fishing in no time. - Nick