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omc 175 sterndrive, not going into gear

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Brad Orser

New member
I have a 1978 campion with the omc 175 sterndrive, 302 engine. I believe this is a 800 series.

Earlier this week I noticed that going into forward it would not engage immediatley, when i would shift into reverse then forward it would engage and it was a hard engage no grinding.

Last night i went out for a rip and the boat was running great, I was at full speed (about 45mph at 3500rpm) when i heard a huge clunk and then the sweet sound of gears grinding. I quickly throttled back and turned off the engine. Now the boat will not engage at all.

Through research I have found out it could be the dog clutch in the lower unit and had i adjusted the the cable I could have prevented this from happening.

Has anyone had this problem and can send me in the right direction. Tonight I am pulling the boat out of the water and taking a sample of the gear oil, hopefully there are no chunks of metal.
 
replace the stripped water pump shaft that transmits power from the upper to the lower and also drives the water pump impeller. The failure was due to infrequent impeller servicing. You need to replace the impeller every 3 or 4 years so you can grease the splines. The grease washes out after a few seasons and then the splines strip. If you can find Castrol Pyroplex blue, that stuff stays the best in my experience - it is hydroactivated - gets tackier and stickier in water.

As far as the shifting issue - that is something else - possibly water in the lower unit rusting and jamming the hydromechanical assist plunger - lower unit needing resealing.
 
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Could also be the lower is shifting but he doesn't know it cause there is no " clunk "

Here's the test:

In gear with the engine key in your pocket, turn the prop, if it turns and the ball gears turn the coupler went.

In gear and the prop turns and the ball gears do not move it's the water pump shafts.

To the question of what to do next? I would first get a manual... click on the link below.

http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/showthread.php?t=381021


[url]http://www.marineengine.com/parts/omc-parts/omc-boat-parts.php?year=1978&hp=120&model=990242D&manufacturer=OMC+Stern+Drive&section=Upper+Gearcase+Group


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Thanks for the input guys, I ended up dropping it off at a shop as I dont have time to wrench. Which is to bad because now i will be paying a huge mark up on parts but at least it will be warrantied.

It was not lack of maintenance as I take the boat in to get winterized and summerized every season. I had the impeller changed last year and everything was greased before the season started.

I have heard that the 800 series is a headache, should i sell the boat once its fixed.
 
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