followingsea
Regular Contributor
I've got two major problems after I had my late 70's outdrive rebuilt. I ran a combo rebuilt AQ140 (converted to a Weber carb & pertronix) with the original 280 outdrive for nearly 400 hours. All this on a '79 Campion 17-1/2'.
The owner before me had installed a stabilizer fin--Doel-Fin I think (I got the boat about 8 years ago). The boat would get on plane in 5 or 6 seconds and hold a straight course (In calm seas) with hands off the wheel for several seconds at least. Nice running, balanced boat...I run Northern Puget Sound, San Juan Islands exclusively.
Because of a hole in my drive bellow, I pulled everything apart and replaced seals, bearings, etc, and because of a little saltwater intrusion in the upper housing/clamp ring, decided to let a local guy do a complete rebuild.
I gave him my original 280 and another 280 "parts" outdrive. Said I wanted one "like new" in return.
Long story short. I re-installed the outdrive, checked and rechecked everything and took off for a few days fishing with a friend yesterday morning.
COULD NOT GET ON PLANE and the boat PULLED HARD TO PORT (left). Every time I tried applying more throttle, it would bog down. Acted like it had a prop a few inches to big! I run a 14 x15 right-hand prop, same as I ran with my original set up. We switched to my spare prop--no difference. Before, I could get over 5k W.O.T. with an average load.
We changed the little "steering fin" both ways on the outdrive-and the manual trims tabs, no noticeable change in handling.
We moved all the gear far forward along with my friend. After about 4 or 5 minutes I could get on plane--at around 3200-3300. From there I could get 4000rpm-4100rpm MAX. It was like pulling an anchor or two. All the while a HARD PULL to Port. Higher speed, the harder the pull to the left.
The rebuild guy used different housings, etc. during the rebuild. Also, we left the "Doel-Fin" off. I thought for sure he used the wrong gear ratio in the lower.. Nope, I pulled the lower this morning, got 2.15:1(or darn close) by rotating the input shaft and checking the prop rotation. I then reconnected it, pulled the entire outdrive off and checked the ratio again--turning the input shaft (with U-joints) and measuring that against the prop rotation. Still go 2.15:1 which is correct for this older AQ 4cyl.
Noticed the new oil, when I just drained it was a med to darker grey with some silvery-brass sheen in it-not clean like I expected it to be. I saw the pressure test before I paid for the rebuild--held 15 lbs for at least 5 minutes).
How can these problems develop?? Pulling hard to port AND, engine bogs down won't get on plane--like starting a car in 3rd or 4th gear. Remember, we tried 2 proven props. Engine out of gear revs right up, doesn't miss a beat up to a very brief 5k plus.
MYSTERY, I cannot figure this one out. The guy who did the rebuild has done them for 25 years, he can't figure this out either. Has ANYONE ever encountered something like this?
The owner before me had installed a stabilizer fin--Doel-Fin I think (I got the boat about 8 years ago). The boat would get on plane in 5 or 6 seconds and hold a straight course (In calm seas) with hands off the wheel for several seconds at least. Nice running, balanced boat...I run Northern Puget Sound, San Juan Islands exclusively.
Because of a hole in my drive bellow, I pulled everything apart and replaced seals, bearings, etc, and because of a little saltwater intrusion in the upper housing/clamp ring, decided to let a local guy do a complete rebuild.
I gave him my original 280 and another 280 "parts" outdrive. Said I wanted one "like new" in return.
Long story short. I re-installed the outdrive, checked and rechecked everything and took off for a few days fishing with a friend yesterday morning.
COULD NOT GET ON PLANE and the boat PULLED HARD TO PORT (left). Every time I tried applying more throttle, it would bog down. Acted like it had a prop a few inches to big! I run a 14 x15 right-hand prop, same as I ran with my original set up. We switched to my spare prop--no difference. Before, I could get over 5k W.O.T. with an average load.
We changed the little "steering fin" both ways on the outdrive-and the manual trims tabs, no noticeable change in handling.
We moved all the gear far forward along with my friend. After about 4 or 5 minutes I could get on plane--at around 3200-3300. From there I could get 4000rpm-4100rpm MAX. It was like pulling an anchor or two. All the while a HARD PULL to Port. Higher speed, the harder the pull to the left.
The rebuild guy used different housings, etc. during the rebuild. Also, we left the "Doel-Fin" off. I thought for sure he used the wrong gear ratio in the lower.. Nope, I pulled the lower this morning, got 2.15:1(or darn close) by rotating the input shaft and checking the prop rotation. I then reconnected it, pulled the entire outdrive off and checked the ratio again--turning the input shaft (with U-joints) and measuring that against the prop rotation. Still go 2.15:1 which is correct for this older AQ 4cyl.
Noticed the new oil, when I just drained it was a med to darker grey with some silvery-brass sheen in it-not clean like I expected it to be. I saw the pressure test before I paid for the rebuild--held 15 lbs for at least 5 minutes).
How can these problems develop?? Pulling hard to port AND, engine bogs down won't get on plane--like starting a car in 3rd or 4th gear. Remember, we tried 2 proven props. Engine out of gear revs right up, doesn't miss a beat up to a very brief 5k plus.
MYSTERY, I cannot figure this one out. The guy who did the rebuild has done them for 25 years, he can't figure this out either. Has ANYONE ever encountered something like this?
Last edited: