Right Hand Drive

[millz90]

I am having a problem where the boat will run great but when i put it in gear it grinds and then cluds and goes into gear. Once its in gear it takes off pretty good. Not extremly fast but not a normal idil speed.

I was messing with the propeller and noticed that if i put it in gear it will turn clockwise and then when spin it counterclockwise it will turn a few times kind of clunking and then it will finally catch and WONT turn.

From my understand it shouldnt turn counterclockwise at all, is that true.....do i have a problem if it turns a few times then catches...what would the problem be?

ANY help is appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[NorCal Boater]

It sounds like it could be a couple of things.
First what is your idle speed? For your engine it should be between 600-700 rpms in forward gear. Tie it to a dock really good with plenty of fenders. Start the engine, put it in forward gear and set the engine idle speed. DO NOT use the tac on the dash. Get some other type of tach to do this.

Once you have set the idle, be sure you are moving the shift lever firmly and quickly into gear. If an Alpha drive is put into gear slowly you will hear that grinding and then the clunk.

As for the direction of the prop rotation, if memoery serves it should turn clockwise in forward gear when looking at the prop from behind.

For checking the RPMs I bought one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CRAF...Z300443895015QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

You can't beat the price and it will do other functions. Have fun

 

[millz90]

I had my idle speed set to aroung 600 - 700 so that must be good but NOT while it was in the water, i set it off the gauge and with a hose hooked up to it.

Can i have someone drive the boat while i adjust the idle speed, instead of tieing it to the dock? Should i just barley put it in gear and then set it?

So its not unusal that the drive will turn counter clock wise even though its in gear?

 

[NorCal Boater]

I had my idle speed set to aroung 600 - 700 so that must be good but NOT while it was in the water, i set it off the gauge and with a hose hooked up to it.

Can i have someone drive the boat while i adjust the idle speed, instead of tieing it to the dock? Should i just barley put it in gear and then set it?

So its not unusal that the drive will turn counter clock wise even though its in gear?

The idle is supposed to be set with a load on the engine. You can have someone drive the boat while you set the idle.

You don't want to "barely put it in gear". You want to firmly put it in gear and then make sure the engine is idling then set the idle speed.

I can't think of anytime the prop should be turning CC other than when the trans is in reverse. If your prop turns CC at any other time that that you may have a transmission/lower unit problem. Take it to a Mercruiser shop now.