wexcellent
New member
I have very limited experience working on engines of any kind let alone outboards.
I have had this motor for 18 years now with very few problems.
The engine still starts right up every time and seems to run fine in the yard with a hose. Over the last few years I thought I was developing a fuel or electric problem. The engine would cut out under power. Then upon restarting it would either run fine and get up on plane or be sluggish, like it couldn't develop rpms. Then at the end of last year it wouldn't get up on plane at all, just bogged down. I put it away for the year because I just didn't have the time to deal with it.
So finally this weekend I changed the plugs, changed the gear case oil (some minimal discoloration in the gear oil, but it appears to be more of a silver, metalic sheen then white watery discoloration, and no discernable metal of any size), and got new ethanol free gas which I have taken to adding Sea Foam to. Started right up in the yard, and no problem revving it. Put it in the water and I have no power in reverse but do have VERY minimal forward power. The engine itself appears to be running fine and revs up in gear without a corresponding transfer of power to the propeller. So I don't understand how this could be true, how do I have "some power"? Isn't the dog either engaged or not? There is no grinding noise. But this basically has to be a lower end problem right?
One other thing I have noticed is that I do get some oil dripping out of the exhaust port when I store the boat. In my memory this has always been a thing, but perhaps it has gotten worse. I just assumed this was because the motor has always not seemed to burn off oil very well, lots of exhaust, and it has always been sluggish after idling or trolling for very long - I thought this was just excess oil but I was too afraid to run it any leaner than manufacturer specs and what do I know?
Also, I have never changed the water pump and it still seems to run strong.
Assuming it is the lower unit and given what I have described what is the recommended approach on an engine of this age? Watch you tube videos and take it apart and replace gears as needed (and since I have it apart replace the water pump and all seals)? Is there a chance that this is the dog gear and the rest of it is fine? Or at this point should just buy a used lower unit and replace the whole thing? Upon cursory glance online it appears that parts are available if parts replacement is a good idea.
Or given how little I know about motors could this be something else entirely and there is other troubleshooting I should do first before messing with the lower end? In a couple of weeks I am going to be done working for the summer and have as much time as I need to devote to getting this thing back up and running.
I have had this motor for 18 years now with very few problems.
The engine still starts right up every time and seems to run fine in the yard with a hose. Over the last few years I thought I was developing a fuel or electric problem. The engine would cut out under power. Then upon restarting it would either run fine and get up on plane or be sluggish, like it couldn't develop rpms. Then at the end of last year it wouldn't get up on plane at all, just bogged down. I put it away for the year because I just didn't have the time to deal with it.
So finally this weekend I changed the plugs, changed the gear case oil (some minimal discoloration in the gear oil, but it appears to be more of a silver, metalic sheen then white watery discoloration, and no discernable metal of any size), and got new ethanol free gas which I have taken to adding Sea Foam to. Started right up in the yard, and no problem revving it. Put it in the water and I have no power in reverse but do have VERY minimal forward power. The engine itself appears to be running fine and revs up in gear without a corresponding transfer of power to the propeller. So I don't understand how this could be true, how do I have "some power"? Isn't the dog either engaged or not? There is no grinding noise. But this basically has to be a lower end problem right?
One other thing I have noticed is that I do get some oil dripping out of the exhaust port when I store the boat. In my memory this has always been a thing, but perhaps it has gotten worse. I just assumed this was because the motor has always not seemed to burn off oil very well, lots of exhaust, and it has always been sluggish after idling or trolling for very long - I thought this was just excess oil but I was too afraid to run it any leaner than manufacturer specs and what do I know?
Also, I have never changed the water pump and it still seems to run strong.
Assuming it is the lower unit and given what I have described what is the recommended approach on an engine of this age? Watch you tube videos and take it apart and replace gears as needed (and since I have it apart replace the water pump and all seals)? Is there a chance that this is the dog gear and the rest of it is fine? Or at this point should just buy a used lower unit and replace the whole thing? Upon cursory glance online it appears that parts are available if parts replacement is a good idea.
Or given how little I know about motors could this be something else entirely and there is other troubleshooting I should do first before messing with the lower end? In a couple of weeks I am going to be done working for the summer and have as much time as I need to devote to getting this thing back up and running.
