Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Thought we would go out after work and make sure the boat was up and running for the upcoming season. Every thing was going smooth and boat was running great! Very few people on the lake, not too hot, not too cold. Get out in the middle of the lake and out of nowhere the motor slips out of gear Not a good feeling at all. We had one boater approach and apologize but he was only on the water for about an hour and wanted to get in some fishing Fortunately the next boaters where very helpful and even towed us across the lake and then helped us get the boat on the trailer So we are now home and wondering what has gone wrong and how much this is gonna cost us Any suggestions/hints/tricks/tips/matches?

Just a though and could be a cheap fix check the hub make sure its not spun put motor in gear and spin the prop if it spis and the prop nut doesn't then thats the culprit

trott46 - Just checked it and unfortunately the nut spins. Any other suggestions?

what year size and brand of motor and i will check to see if i can get the manual and get you in the right direction

Sorry, I should have included that information. We have a 2002 Bennington 2275 FS with a 2003 Mercury 150 XR6.

don't know that specific motor but the first thing i'd check would be the shift cable adjustment.

Your explanation was not the best to figure out anything. The motor slipped out of gear? How fast were you going, or rpm? Did the motor RPM race out of control until you pulled back the throttle? We need a little more infomation to really be able to help you. Try and explain the entire event even if it takes a couple of paragraphs.

I dont see the manual the next thing i would do is locate the shift rod just above the cavitation plate on the boat side of the motor and have someone put it in gear while you watch it to see if it turns if so then it is in the gearing in the lower unit if it does got then it should be in the cable or linkage

pcryer wrote:We had one boater approach and apologize but he was only on the water for about an hour and wanted to get in some fishing.

federal law required him to render assistance if able to do so without seriously endangering the vessel or crew, 46 USC Sec. 2304.
your state law probably provides the same. had your not fun evening turned deadly, he could've been fined not more than $1,000,
imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

FloterBoter wrote:

pcryer wrote:We had one boater approach and apologize but he was only on the water for about an hour and wanted to get in some fishing.

federal law required him to render assistance if able to do so without seriously endangering the vessel or crew, 46 USC Sec. 2304.
your state law probably provides the same. had your not fun evening turned deadly, he could've been fined not more than $1,000,
imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

Not to mention the guy had to be a real shiphead!

Bob

We kinda thought there was a law but fortunate for us the other people came along. I am sure the first guy will have his day some day.

To explain the situation a little better: We were running about 36-38 mph and playing with the trim trying to get that sweet spot for the most speed. The motor slipped out of gear but continue reving up. We could kill the motor and start it back up with no problem, it just would not go into gear. When we got home and starting trying to figure this out it seemed kinda stiff to push the throttle forward into gear but the prop never did engage. When the prop is spun by hand it spins freely but does make a clicking noise.

Sorry if this is not the best explaination but I am by no means a writter

Thanks again!

Been years ago on an older Evinrude on a 15 runabout, I came through the one weed bed to go from one lake to the other and you alway stopped on the other side and reverse the prop to clear the weeds from the prop.

Worked great the 30 times before we did it and one day after I cleared the prop I had no gears and was dead in the water, it that case it was a carter pin that rusted apart and let the shift rod go

Did you try shifting into reverse while on the water and if so what happened? If you didn't have reverse either you may have lost the lower end! If you had reverse it may just be the shift cable adjustment, I hope that's what it is for your wallet!

i had a shift problem a while back only my throttle got stuck in forward (toyota syndrome) lucky for me i hadnt left the dock yet and was just priming the motor. turned out the plastic cam in the throttle box had broke up and jammed.

Sounds like your throttle linkage got outta wack or hosed up....
That would be the first thing i would check...