www.iFourWinns.com

so I posted the same question in horizon section but I may of left a few things out then I found this section and thought it would be better.

sorry for the long read but I figure to best diagnose problem full story should be stated.


OK so last year I bought a 2000 four winns H180 bowrider for a great deal (so I thought). When purchased the original owner stated the the lower unit needed all new bushing cause it leaked oil and when I put oil in it he was right lol it leaked it all back out through the prop. So after a few weeks of finding someone to do the work I go and pick it up and its good. I put oil in it and no leaks anywhere. I took it to a local small small lake (non recreational use) to unload it and slowly went to a friends fishing dock so I could work on the trailer some. Everything seemed good I then loaded it back on the trailer and started post water cleaning ( I am very anal about my toys) I checked the lower unit oil and it seemed good so the next day I planned to take it to our bigger recreational lake.

Second day in the water went as follows. I put in at the dock and drove around the lake for about 15 minutes then headed out the canal to the mississippi river were there is a sand bar that all the locals dock at and party, drink and play volleyball. We hang out for several hours and then head back in. I pass the loading ramp and decided to take a quick lap around the lake, while heading back to the ramp POW the lowerunit popped and was making an awful grinding sound. Now I am really pissed so I putted to the ramp loaded the boat and pulled up to the parking area. The lower unit has a crack all the way around the base and is completely seized up. I pull the lower drain and nothing but lake water and metal shavings comes out. DAMN now I have to replace the whole unit and we all know thats not cheap. So I store the boat and winterize it saying hell I will work on it next spring.

Spring time is here time to work on the boat. After doing a lot of searching and searching I find a lower unit in CA for sale for 600.00 shipped so I take the chance and by it. I take it to my local mech and he replaces the bushings and gives it a one over and all is great. I hook it up to the upper drive and damn it will not free spin, I try to put in forward and still cant, revers and still cant then back to nuetral and damn I still cant freespin the prop. Oh and not to mention it is a real pain to get it into gear, does not seem as smooth as I remember it being.


So my question. Is there something else I need to be looking at in the upper unit? Is there something I am missing? should I try to start the boat and put it into gear that way to see if the prop will spin then or if it makes any rackett?

Please help I have no clue and I am getting a lil bummed now. Thanks in advance

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2000 Four Winns 180 horizon 3.0 v/p
pulled by 02 chevy avalance 6" lift and 35" tires

Assuming the gear linkage is moving and the upper unit is actually going in and out of gear, if water got into your old lower unit and chewed it up, water and some of the metal shavings etc may well have found their way up into the upper unit.

I'd say you need to split the upper and lower again and see if the upper is free. Hopefully you have not contaminated your new lower unit with detritus from the upper unit/ the old lower unit.

Graham

once seperated how should I go about checking the upper unit. As far as ruining the new lower I dont think so as I have yet to put in oil in it or let alone put it in water. In fact I havent hooked the battery up from last year yet either

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2000 Four Winns 180 horizon 3.0 v/p
pulled by 02 chevy avalance 6" lift and 35" tires

In neutral, you should be able to turn the output shaft of the upper unit if it's not seized.

To be sure it's in neutral, disconnect the cube nut/ shift cable from the shift linkage ( by removing the split pin and a washer) andd move the linkage manually so the upper lever is horizontal.

Graham

do if siezed is it a few hundred dollar fix or am I gonna have to buy a whole new upper unit as well

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2000 Four Winns 180 horizon 3.0 v/p
pulled by 02 chevy avalance 6" lift and 35" tires

Very difficult to say; it depends on what is damaged, or whether something is just jammed.

Dismantling will mean at least a new set of seals to reassemble it

Graham

how do I know what ratio I have in my upper/lower unit as far as gearing goes

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2000 Four Winns 180 horizon 3.0 v/p
pulled by 02 chevy avalance 6" lift and 35" tires

There is usually a riveted on plate, I think on the port side.

If its missing, then,then you can calculate it from input turns vs output turns. I think, but I can't confirm today, that most sea level drives are 1.78: 1

Graham