Need advice on motor problem, please!

[BackOnTheWater]

OK, I'm still new to all this boat stuff, but not too new to know I have spent too much money (and will spend more, I know!) on my old boat already.

Since last September, I have pretty much re-built both the upper and lower ends of my old 150 BlackMax. New water pump, re-built gear box, new prop, new LU casing, etc.

After pulling out one evening, I noticed a piece of fishing line hanging out of the prop. I tugged, and it turned the prop a couple of times but would come out no further. I tugged a bit more, and it broke. I had assumed that it had wrapped around the prop shaft, and worried as to what it might do or might have done.

Sunday, I had engine problems. The water pressure was slow to come up to normal, the boat did not want to jump out of the hole, and felt like it was not wanting to spin up or run real well. On my way back to load up, the water pressuse jumped to about double normal, and when I got to the ramp I noticed it was spitting water instead of the steady stream I'm used to.

Now, if I'm not mistaken, the prop area is exhaust, and the water intakes are on the sides of the LU case. In order for the line to cause problems in the water pump, it would have had to have entered through the intakes and run down the shaft to come out at the prop. Or, seemingly more difficult, could it have gone up to the pump from the prop?

Questions are: 1- how serious of a problem can a piece of line cause? 2-should I pay to have it taken down and checked or will it work itself out if I should dare to run it for a few minutes?

I appreciate your advice in advance...thanks!

 

[jon the fisherman]

It probaly cut the propshaft seal, and let water in. This is hard on the propshaft bearings. I would fix it asap, because the strain on the motor can be to much to bare. I fixed one myself, but it can require some special tools like a harmonic balancer puller to get the hub out.

 

[Bass Addict]

Sounds like you are haveing other issues with your water pump, the line wrapped around your prop shaft can only wipe out the prop shaft seal and let water in your lower unit or oil out of the unit. You can remove your prop and remove the line and also check the seal for damage or leakage of gear oil.
As far as line getting sucked into the water intake, that could be posible but very unlikely. I would pull the lower unit and check the waterpump impeller and houseing.

 

[BackOnTheWater]

I could check the LU gear lube to see if there is any or if it is milky...can do that myself...I haven't seen anything except water, but I guess it could have blown into the lake, eh?

Thanks Jon, I'll check it...if milky or empty, I'll take it in...if it looks good, what else might be up? You know how these things are put together, appreciate an opinion or another potential clue...

 

[BackOnTheWater]

Thanks, BA! If the line is not the problem, then the work would be free...thanks for a ray of hope!

 

[jon the fisherman]

Hope it is something simple. Let us know how it goes

 

[BackOnTheWater]

will do, J...thanks again!