Reply With QuoteNeutral is fine, never change gears without the engine running, there are no syncros or true clutch on our motors.
cheers fnq
G'day, I'm new to boating, having recently bought a tinny with 2004 Mercury 15hp 2 stroke. After a recent trip, I left the outboard in neutral for the tow home. I have been told this will damage my motor. What damage could I have done and how do I diagnose / fix these potential problems?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
Neutral is fine, never change gears without the engine running, there are no syncros or true clutch on our motors.
cheers fnq
Do you mean left it running on the trailer?
If so, I really hope you didn't overheat the poor thing. Is it running ok? Do you notice smoke now, or a loss of oil or fuel economy? It might be worth getting it serviced and checking the impellor too.
You won't make that mistake again, huh?
Carbon Really Ain't Pollution.
If you left it running on the trailer, I hope you live close to wherever you were at.
You can overheat ( read "Cook" ) the motor coz it needs water flow to keep it cool..... that's why the little water jet p*sses water out.....water flow.
If you did have it running, get it checked by a good mechanic...just in case., especially as Tim said, the impeller.
If not, your probably ok, just depends what you really mean by having it in neutral.
Don.
"Magpie Navy." VHF 73.
It was a Woman who drove me to Drink......
....and I never gave her money for the Petrol......
Timi and Donny,I think you blokes are barking up the wrong tree.
Where does he say he left the motor on while travelling home?....give the guy a break.... no-one would be that stupid.
FNQ's on the money.
Scott
Scott,Originally Posted by disorderly
You give people too much credit, it wouldn't surprise me. Unless it was running i can't think of any reason why someone would suggest it could damage the motor. What possible damage could leaving the motor in neutral on the way home cause if it wasn't running.
Matt
he may have been referring to towing it behind a larger boat with the prop free running potentially causing damage to the gearbox ?
nah! he said it was 2 st not 4 st
funny funny man
Just another fishy myth he has heard somewhere I guess!! A free spinning prop causing gearbox damage... Shit, hate to think what would happen then when under power!!!!
Not a crack at you Spantman, just at whoever the ###### was that told you such nonsense!
Cheers
Re: Outboard damage
Gday Matt,
not being an outboard mechanic but having a bit of common sense, perhaps the fella that said you may damage the engine while towing in neutral was refering to splines, couplings, or any sort of engaging mechanism in the engine. when an engaging mechanism of some sort is disengaged, (put into neutral) then there is room for play. especially if it is on the back of a boat bouncing along the famous Bruce highway. this movement MAY cause some damage to splines, couplings and the like.
just a thought...
John
I have an idea. Lets wait for Spantman to post again....
I just wish Spantman would clear it up, was it on the trailer or in the water?
I it was a Verado I could understand it being on the trailer, it's so quiet!
MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Sorry, had to say it, in response to the 2 stroke comment below
Verado out of the water and running is quite easy to notice...
Carbon Really Ain't Pollution.
Timiboy
Like to see them make a 15 Hp Verado, I don't think so.
I think he is just asking about a prop running free in the wind.
How is the Verado going.
Chris
Actually, the last couple of owner manuals I have read state to always leave motor "in gear" when towing to prevent damage to gear box, then a few pages later state"never shift motor into gear whilst engine is not running"
Make sense of that if you can.
Cheers
BMac
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