Why does my boat make a grinding noise when I put it in gear?


the grinding noise you hear is the clutch dog trying to catch the prop gear. shifting slow or loose shift linkage is the main cause.

How do I know if my outboard lower unit is bad?

Bad outboard lower units can give the operator shifting issues, and other signs will include water in the gear lube, metallic particles on the drain screw magnet, clunking sounds when shifted, or the loss of the ability to shift into gears.

How do I know if my outboard water pump is bad?

Signs of a bad boat impeller are either boat engine overheats when you try to accelerate, loss in impeller vanes flexibility, physical wear & tear like cracks in impeller vane roots, melted or worn of vanes. Even if you see less or no water coming out of tell-tale, it might be due to a bad impeller.

Is it OK to run a four stroke outboard full throttle?

As long as you are propped correctly and can hit the upper end of the RPM range, [to run an engine at its maximum throttle all the time] is not a problem. Most smaller engines have two speeds, OFF and WOT. Very rarely does an engine wear out. Keep up with maintenance and you will be fine.

How often should you change lower unit oil?

once a year
Most sterndrive and outboard manufacturers advise you to change the gearcase oil in your lower unit every 100 hours or once a year (whichever comes first). Clean oil is critical for protecting the heavily loaded gears in your lower unit and preventing expensive damage.

What oil goes in an outboard lower unit?

You can use any brand of lubricant that has a grade designation of API GL5 SAE 80 or 90 weight. Make sure you do not mix different oil brands or weights. into the BOTTOM drain hole. Then slowly squeeze the bottle to force the oil into the lower unit.

How do you test a water pump on an outboard motor?

How Do You Test an Outboard Water Pump? On many outboards, you can simply put on the muffs and start the engine. You should see a steady stream of water coming out of the holes on the top of the engine. However, some brands do pump out a stream, but it might not look steady.

How often should you change your water pump impeller?

You should check the impeller’s condition during Spring Commissioning and every 200 hours of operation. Correctly installed impellers may last for several years, but you should stick to a schedule of preventative instead of emergency maintenance.

How long will a 4 stroke outboard last?
