www.iFourWinns.com

I backed the boat off the trailer and ran about half way down the lake when my RPM's spiked. I slowed down then the boat stalled and now won't start. It feels like it is in gear when I turn the key.
Two weeks ago I lost all forward movement. I bought the secondary throttle cabel alignment jig and all seemed good until this weekend. I also adjusted the alternator belt tension. Any one have ideas.

Just a guess, but you may have spun the prop hub bushing.

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08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

It could be a few things.

- Spun hub in the prop could explain the spike in RPM...doesn't explain the not starting/stuck in gear symptom.

How high did the RPMs spike? For how long were they that high?

I think we need more information to be able to help.

When the gear shift lever is in neutral can you spin the prop by hand?

You said you bought the throttle cable adjustment jig. Did you get it all adjusted and working properly?

What engine? What drive?

You said it is a 1993 Horizon with and I/O. What engine? 4.3, 5.0, 5.7? What Drive? OMC Cobra, King Cobra?

Worst case scenario is that when the RPMs spiked, you threw a rod, screwed up the valve train or blew apart something in the outdrive. Have you looked at the oil in the engine? What about the oil in the drive?

Best case scenario is that that the throttle/shift cables either fell out of adjustment or need to be adjusted again. It is possible that the shift cable (mis adjustment) allowed the drive to slip into neutral while underway.

I'm actually leaning towards throttle/shift cable issues. I just hope the engine/drive didn't see major damage due to the RPM spike.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Thanks for the response. I have a 5.0 Cobra. The rpm's spiked to 5000. Only for a short time. Maybe 20 sec. Yes after the adjustment everything worked fine. My prop does spin freely in neutral and stiff when you put in gear. Motor oil was clear. Need to check outboard oil.

You stated it is like it is in gear when you try to start it. What do you mean by that? Does the prop spin when you try to start it?

Does the motor turn over at all when you try to start it?

When you try to start it do you have the gear lever in the full upright neutral position...or did you push the neutral button to move it off idle when you tried starting?

You have fuel correct? I know it is a stupid question, but I could see where running out of fuel could lead to some of the symptoms you are describing. If you aren't out of fuel, what about your fuel filter. Is it clean?

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

So when I try to start it the motor won't turn over. It wants to, but it stops with a hard. It is a real abrupt and hard stop and the motor itself moves like it is under tension when I turn the key. No spin of the prop while trying to start. I do have fuel. The throttle is in full upright neutral. The prop spins freely while in neutral and seems to engage when I do put it in gear. Fuel filter replaced last season. Thanks for the help.

The battery if fully charged and all the terminals are clean, correct?

Is so and you can confirm the starter is not the culprit, it is time to pull all the spark plugs, inspect for damage.

Then (with the spark plugs removed and the ignition off, battery disconnected) try to turn the engine by hand. You can use a big wrench or breaker bar on the crankshaft.

Hopefully, it turns freely. If it doesn't, you need to start some major disassembly to determine the cause.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

The battery does have a charge and is clean. New last year and hasn't been a problem so far. I don't know about the starter, but would that make it spike rpms then die? I will remove the plugs and disconnect the battery and see what happens. I too hope it turns freely. Could adjusting the alternator belt to tight be a problem? I really appreciate your help. I will let you know what I find in a couple days.

I think there is a possibility that the spike in RPMs and the fact that is won't start now are 2 separate issues. The spike may have caused the other, but still 2 separate issues.

How fast were you going when this happened? What RPM was the engine running when it spiked to ~5000?

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Sounds like perhaps separate issues but I would be willing to bet the engine is hydrolocked....pull all the spark plugs and see if it cranks over, but beware, if there is water in the cylinders it will blow out all over the place. If your motor revved up and then shut down they almost always will run backwards for a turn or 2, and thats all it takes to suck water into the motor.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

I thought it might be hydrolocked also, but the op said the engine oil is clean....although thinking about it now, I guess it is possible the oil wouldn't be milky if it is hydrolocked.

Hope he gets if figured out soon.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to investagate tomorrow. I will post what I find.

So I troublr shot the motor and it was not hydrolocked. Plugs dry and the motor still didn't turn over. We think something seized in the I/O. I'm going to take it to the shop on tues.

One other thing you can do is remove the outdrive and see if the engine cranks then. However if you say that the prop spins free in neutral and locks in gear, AND it is not low on gear oil, the drive may not be locked. On the original dog clutch Cobra (86-93 model years) if the gear oil in the drive is changed and the person doing it does not follow the proper re-fill procedure the drive can be underfilled and then the upper gears will be wiped out and that can lock up the drive. How is the gear oil level and condition? The RPMS spiking suggests more a spun coupler, did you also smell burning rubber when that happened?

I'd:
1) Check the gear oil in the drive using the dipstick on the top cover.
2) pull the bottom most plug on the drive (drain plug on the lower unit) and check for water in the gear oil, if there is water in there it will come out first, then the oil will come out looking milky).
3) if #s 2+3 check out, it is still possible for the drive to be locked up, but if you find low gear oil, or a drive full of water, then remove the drive (put drive in Neutral, remove 6 nuts that hold the drive to the pivot housing, and the nuts holding the trim ram cross piece) and slide it off. Be careful it weighs about 90 lbs. Then see if the engine will crank. You should not start it because it will not be getting cooling water unless you hook up a hose directly to the thermostat housing (disconnect the hose that comes from the transom mount).

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II