yet another question -- stalling/overfull gearbox

[mfallon]

In anyone’s experience, can an overfull gearbox make the engine stall and die when put into gear?

The motor ran beautifully all day yesterday, but seemed to have some issues today. It started consistently on the second pull and ran perfectly in neutral. However, when I closed the throttle to put the little motor into gear the engine would sputter a little bit (almost as if over-rich, although the choke was wide open) and promptly die.

Upon hauling the motor out, I opened the gearbox plug/drain and saw that it was too full and of a oil / water mix (although still largely oil). My guess is that the seals -- it is a ’93 40+ -- have gone bad and allowed water to seep in as it was left on the mooring. As it is a long shaft, the gearbox tends to spend a lot of time underwater due to the swell.

Does this make sense to anyone or do you think I may be barking up the wrong tree? In the end, I did managed to limp back to my mooring, but not before I was strongly considering throwing out my anchor or trying to get some sail up in a hurry to beat my way out of trouble.

As always, any of your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[CatiGull]

Im doubtful you could get so much resistance from the gearbox unless it is severely neglected for many years. I have overfilled my 140 weight gearboxes on occasion and never had trouble starting my non-clutch models. I would guess plugged main jet maybe..engine will start under no-load but will die as soon as some load comes on perhaps??

[mfallon]

Well, I drained and refilled the gearbox and also cleaned the carb jet and bowl (in which there were some tiny metalic flecs -- I can't imagine that is a good thing).

Ran like a charm again. Starting to think it is not the little engine itself, but rather my facination with it that is causing these little quirks now and again.

[CatiGull]

If you have one of the steel fuel tanks that hasnt been maintained, pitch it for a brass one unless you like stripping that carb in the field every few days.... ....John has good used ones of course

[mfallon]

I actually have a plastic tank, but apparently some sort of tiny metallic flecs managed to get in there somewhere along the line. And given the use it gets, the plastic tank is probably a better/more pragmatic fit for me (although admittedly not nearly as dignified looking as brass or even steel).

Perhaps a tactless thing to admit, but I’ll probably just continue to monitor the fuel bowl and jet through the end of the season and then roll up my selves and clean the whole fuel system this fall. It will give me a nice tidy project and ample time not to rush through it.

As always, thanks for the words of wisdom.

[CatiGull]

If you can Seagull across Buzzards Bay week of August 13 I can give you a free Seagull tune up at Cuttyhunk Harbor while I watch my kids dinghy race in the Harbor.

Seagulling Buzzards Bay

[mfallon]

Thanks for the kind offer, however, the trip from Marblehead is probably a little bit more than my humble Rhodes 18 should bite off.

That said, you should drop in on Frank Valentino in Dennis. I got my 40+ from him and he seemed to have quite a collection and even better stories.

[CatiGull]

Indeed a long trip.

Is there a good public launch in marblehead ?? Ive wanted to 'Gull up there but dont know a good location for launch and storing trailer??

[mfallon]

There are two I know of. One is at the base of the harbor and the other is in an area called little harbor/barnegat. I haven't launched at boat at the former in quite some time, but as I remember both are more than servicable.

Storing the trailer will be your greater challenge. I would think the Harbormaster would be able to offer better advice. He can be reached at 781-631-2386 / Ch. 16.

It is a wonderful area to sail.