V-Drive Help

[Surfer6662]

I have a 1988 340 Sundancer and I was out yeasterday when I one of my motors cut out. So I put it in neutral and it started fine but when I go to shift into drive it cuts out. But it will shift into reverse and run fine. It is only in drive that it cuts out. Any suggestions on what could cause this? Any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

[J Levine]

Did you pull the dipstick on the transmission and look at to condition of the fluid? It is ATF and should be red. If it is low you could have a leak either from the case to the bilge or from the oil cooler to the raw water, If it is dark and/or smells burned you could have suffered a internal failure of some type, and if it has evidence of water in it (tan color and/or with a mayo like substance sticking to the dip stick assembly) you probably have a failed oil cooler that is allowing water to enter the oil. My guess (unfortunatly) is that the transmission has suffed a internal failure of some type and will need to be removed and repaired or replaced. The only differece between forward and reverse on these transmissions is what side the unit is installed on and what type of prop it is turning (foward or counter rotating) IE in normal operation going forward one transmission is technically in forward with a standard prop while the other is actually in reverse with a counter rotating prop.

 

[fwebster]

I think you have a neutral safety switch that is either faulty or out of adjustment.

 

[J Levine]

OK I am yielding to the master (Frank W) check the neutral switch BEFOREyou have the trans rebuilt.

 

[fwebster]

Jon,

I could be and probably am wrong............I just like to check the free or cheap to fix stuff first!

 

[Hampton]

My first thought was the switch too.

When you shifted into drive, was there an immediate stop to the engine with a shudder, as if the prop just hit something hard, or did it wind down like you turned the motor off with the key?

The reasons I ask should be obvious.

 

[Cocktail Time]

Along the lines of cheap to fix, it couldn't hurt to look under the boat and make sure you don't have anything wrapped around your shaft. A couple of weeks ago I ran over a floating dock line and the boat ran fine in forward but would cut out immediately when I put it in reverse. Turned out to be a very easy repair.

(And it was another reason I'm pissed at myself for forgetting to re-install my Spur line cutters when I splashed the boat this season)

Take a couple miutes and check your shaft, five minute check, 10 minute repair and it's free...

 

[Surfer6662]

Thanks guys. THe first thing I did when I got back to my dock was jump in and chek the prop. No problems there. BUt it wasn't until the next day when I went back down to my boat and started it up, that I realized that in neutral the boat was in reverse. When I shifted to forward it cuts out like I shut the motor down. If you guys have any more thoughts I appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[fwebster]

Go back and re-read my earlier post about the neutral safety switch being bad or out of adjustment..........your switch is loose and has slipped to the point that the switch thinks the boat is in neutral when it is really in gear.

 

[brimanst]

It sounds as if your cable is way out of adjustment. If your tranny is in reverse when your shifter is in neutral, then it would make sense that when you put your shifter in forward, the tranny is in neutral where your safety switch takes over. I would check the cable position in comparison to your known good motor.