Hit a Submerged Cable

shrfdeputy · Post by **shrfdeputy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:48 pm

When I was at Table rock two weeks ago there was a ton of debris in the water where we were. The resort we stayed at had a sketchy ramp, and with water levels way up we were actually launching from a road above the ramp. The resort owners were nice enough to let me keep the boat there for the 8 days we would be gone.

When we arrived for the most recent trip I decided to put my "spare" aluminum props on in case I hit something. I knew we would be doing a long cruise back to the resort after fireworks on the 4th, and I didn't want to risk dinging up my expensive SS props.

I went the whole weekend with no issues at all. I felt a couple small bumps here and there where we hit small sticks, but never felt like I hit anything major. The ride back after fireworks was in total darkness so we went just a little faster than no wake speed. Never up on plane. Just pushed through for about 45 minutes. I was following a guy that knows the lake better than I do so I followed his lead.

The last morning we were there I went to load the boat up on this sketchy a$$ ramp. After I got the trailer where I thought I wanted it, I went to get the boat out of the slip. I waited for the engine to warm up and bit in the slip by pressing the neutral button and running it up to 1500 rpms after a few seconds, and once it did I began to maneuver to the trailer. This took a few bumps in and out of gear like I always do when I'm coming in to dock. A few times I noticed the boat did not immediately drop into gear. If I pushed the throttle forward it would bang into gear. I've never felt that before so I tried to replicate it in reverse, and it did it there too.

I abandoned trying to retrieve the boat and drove out and ran up and down the lake for a second. When I came back towards the trailer it would not replicate the banging into gear again.

Aaaand that's when I hit a submerged dock line trying to get on the trailer. It tore two of the ears off of the front prop, and put a huge bend in one of the ears on the back prop. I was still able to get it on the trailer, but of course it has a wicked vibration with half of the prop in the bottom of the lake.

I had already made arrangements to leave the boat there again for the 2 weeks until we come back through. We go to Bull Shoals and then come over for the Regatta later this month. The boat isn't with me, so I can't mess with it at all until I get back down there. I am obviously going to put new props back on it. I have the SS set, and I'm currently looking for another "spare" aluminum set. Best I've found online is about $750-$800 for aluminum back ups.

Sorry for the huge narrative, but what would make my outdrive act like that? It is one of those Volvo 280 or 290 DP's (I can never remember which), and it is a 1995 252 with the 7.4 GL. Would a long cruise at 2000 rpm knock a cable out of adjustment? I need some ideas in case it is still doing it when I get to it and drop it in Bull Shoals in 2 weeks. I need the boat to take us all over the place for about 8 straight days! Thanks in advance.

Big Block Power · Post by **Big Block Power** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:21 pm

I would just bring the props to a prop shop and get them fixed. Or sure go buy new ones. Sure could be a cable or the cones engaging the gears. Not good either way if it started doing it all the time after. Bummer man.

shrfdeputy · Post by **shrfdeputy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:26 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:21 pm I would just bring the props to a prop shop and get them fixed. Or sure go buy new ones. Sure could be a cable or the cones engaging the gears. Not good either way if it started doing it all the time after. Bummer man.

It did the drop in gear thing BEFORE I hit the cable. It seemed to go away, but I’ll need to test more to be sure. I’ve seen some prop shops work some magic in the past, but these are beyond repair I’m guessing.

Big Block Power · Post by **Big Block Power** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:32 pm

shrfdeputy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:26 pm
Big Block Power wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:21 pm I would just bring the props to a prop shop and get them fixed. Or sure go buy new ones. Sure could be a cable or the cones engaging the gears. Not good either way if it started doing it all the time after. Bummer man.
It did the drop in gear thing BEFORE I hit the cable. It seemed to go away, but I’ll need to test more to be sure. I’ve seen some prop shops work some magic in the past, but these are beyond repair I’m guessing.

They can fix them. I've had worse. Lol years ago. Lol
But I haven't looked for props for your drive. Then I hope you're drive is good. Or insurance claim. It happened at the same time right!!

shrfdeputy · Post by **shrfdeputy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:35 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:32 pm
shrfdeputy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:26 pm
Big Block Power wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:21 pm I would just bring the props to a prop shop and get them fixed. Or sure go buy new ones. Sure could be a cable or the cones engaging the gears. Not good either way if it started doing it all the time after. Bummer man.
It did the drop in gear thing BEFORE I hit the cable. It seemed to go away, but I’ll need to test more to be sure. I’ve seen some prop shops work some magic in the past, but these are beyond repair I’m guessing.
They can fix them. I've had worse. Lol years ago. Lol
But I haven't looked for props for your drive. Then I hope you're drive is good. Or insurance claim. It happened at the same time right!!

If there is ANYTHING wrong with it, I guarantee yo it will be an insurance claim. My drive is completely obsolete. Supposedly there are a ton of them laying around in bone yards, but sourcing them can be difficult...and expensive.

akorcovelos · Post by **akorcovelos** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:41 pm

When was the last time the shift cables were replaced?

shrfdeputy · Post by **shrfdeputy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:43 pm

akorcovelos wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:41 pm When was the last time the shift cables were replaced?

I can tell you they haven’t been replaced in the 100 hours/3 years I have had the boat. Not sure before that.

akorcovelos · Post by **akorcovelos** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:46 pm

shrfdeputy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:43 pm
akorcovelos wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:41 pm When was the last time the shift cables were replaced?
I can tell you they haven’t been replaced in the 100 hours/3 years I have had the boat. Not sure before that.

That would be where I start. Even if they aren’t the problem now, they will be sooner than later.

AsLan7 · Post by **AsLan7** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:59 pm

Man. That’s a tough break SD. Insurance claim for sure in my book.

thunder550 · Post by **thunder550** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:45 am

I've had an occasional gear bang on my Bravo 1. Seems to go away with fresh gear oil. I'm assuming my cone clutches are on borrowed time, but so far this season it hasn't happened.

Actually now that I type this out, I realize that I had my shift cable and bellow replaced last fall and don't recall it happening since then, so maybe that is the answer.

Lockey14s · Post by **Lockey14s** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:58 am

I would start with draining and changing the drive fluid. see if its milky or has some metal filings in it. that will rule out a lot of things and maybe your drive was getting low on fluid. cant hurt to have some fresh topped off oil in it, especially with all the upcoming boating you will be doing.

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