Prop doesn't engage at idle speed

[Mike Clendenin]

2018 SPX230 with 6.2 mercruiser and electronic throttle.

When I put my boat in gear, the prop doesn't engage or takes up to 10 seconds to engage. If I give it a little more gas, it does engage but it bangs into gear.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

 

[JimG]

Could be a linkage adjustment or maybe the cone clutch.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Might be a battery issue, too. DTS is very voltage sensitive. If a fully charged/load tested battery of the proper size doesn't solve the issue, anything mechanically wrong will be under warranty - and likely too difficult to help via a forum with limited info, anyways.

 

[Bt Doctur]

And they sell this stuff as the new modern equipment.
Nothing wrong with cables and they don`t depend on voltage either

 

[Espos4]

2018 SPX230 with 6.2 mercruiser and electronic throttle.

When I put my boat in gear, the prop doesn't engage or takes up to 10 seconds to engage. If I give it a little more gas, it does engage but it bangs into gear.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Does the shift actuator move and THEN there is a 10 second delay before prop engagement? If so, cone clutch is likely.

If it takes 10 seconds for shift actuator to move after selecting a gear, then you are looking at an issue with the DTS system.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Any service history on the drives?

 

[Mike Clendenin]

There has been no service history on the drive.

When I move the shifter forward into gear, it takes several seconds before the prop engages. Unless I give it more gas, then it bangs into gear. I'm not familiar with the cone clutch but it sounds like that could be the issue.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

 

[bbwhitejr]

Sounds like the cone clutch to me if it is a B3. Yours is very new, but my 06 260DA did that for a while. The diagnosis by a Merc dealer was the clone clutch. Took it easy and changed the OD fluid one fall and it never did it again.

Bennett

 

[Lazy Daze]

Speaking of drive fluid... you didn't happen to put some type of drive in there OTHER than the Merc Hi-Perf stuff, did you? Other fluid can and does cause shifting problems. Mercruiser is very specific that Bravo drives require the Hi-Perf stuff.

 

[Mike Clendenin]

I haven't done anything to the drive fluid. But I did find a video on YouTube that showed the exact same thing happening. It turned out to be the cone clutch for that guy. The replacement wasn't easy or inexpensive.

I think I will take it in and let the dealer figure it out. I just hoped it was something simple that I could fix.

Thanks again for everyone's help...

 

[bbwhitejr]

I haven't done anything to the drive fluid. But I did find a video on YouTube that showed the exact same thing happening. It turned out to be the cone clutch for that guy. The replacement wasn't easy or inexpensive.

I think I will take it in and let the dealer figure it out. I just hoped it was something simple that I could fix.

Thanks again for everyone's help...

It might be worth your time and trouble to change the OD fluid and ensure it has the HP version in it. I had mine checked out, pulled apart, and yep, needed the cone clutch and some other stuff. Found out in the fall just before winterization. Planned to have it done in the spring. Changed the fluid, took it out in the spring, and was pleasantly surprised it never did it again. I see the boat and owner from time to time and he has never had the issue either.

Bennett