Logo
FULL SITE MENU

my motor commits suicide.

R

Rufus Chucklebutty

Member
My old 15 hp OMC out board was chugging along nicely yesterday when there was a "clunk" and the motor stopped dead, ripped itself off the transom, and threw itself in the water, followed by the fuel tank, I was left holding the snapped off tiller arm.

Fished it out of shallow freshwater, and I can't find anything wrong with it. Nothing hit the prop, the sheer pin is still OK, its a mystery !

Any suggestions ?
 
That sucks in the worst way...but I have to admit...the mental "video" you provided is pretty funny. I hope you figure it out. Sounds like a rod gave out or came loose from the crank.. I dont know..Id be willing to be theres internal damage. Glad you were able to get it back at least.
And glad there was no other damage... to you..or the boat.
 
Last edited:
I haven't looked in detail yet, but the 3 gear positions work. Its not seized. Both pistons are functioning.

Seeing as its an old heap of junk worth little, it was funny. Though I'm going to have to make a new tiller arm if it ever runs again.( its circa 1963 Gale )

I had the same expression as Oliver Hardy after Stan has burnt his house down.
 
Water that got inside the motor must be dealt with immediately.------------Or throw it back into a bucket of water to save the internals from rusting !!-----Then plan on repairs once you are ready to deal with it.-------Model # is ??
 
just read the history of that motor on your other threads....you are going to really appreciate a good motor if you get one...
 
Its a temporary engine to move a boat around while the main Diesel engine is being re built.

I spent ages getting it to run , which it only did on full choke at first, then after a few hours hard run it sorted itself out and ran ok with no choke, and with the high speed needle tuned in, it was running pretty good.

What's the drill for drying out a 2 cylinder motor ?
 
Last edited:
pull the plugs and get the water out...then run it .....when you get it running run it a long long time and dry it out and get lubrication into the bearings etc..
 
I got all the water out, and got it running again, but now its gone back to dying after a couple of minutes run, and it needs loads of choke, the crankcase joint is weeping oil, and tiny bubbles, I reckon that's the cause.

While Ive got it apart I will replace the crankshaft seals, does anyone know where to get these ?

Gale model 15d15.
 
I have a couple of Gales and they generally correspond to the jonnyrude models of a year earlier so you shouldn;t have too much trouble getting bits for it.
 
If you can keep laughing, and could make a video of that happening it would be a winner on America home videos.
Sorry about the engine though.
 
Back
Top