Ok folks, I've got to put this question to you guys as I am having trouble figuring out what to do. The situation is last month I bought a fixer-upper starcraft 16ft boat with a 1960 gale 35hp electric start motor on it. I fixed up the boat, got the prop and parts that were missing from the motor and took it out on the lake 2 days ago. The motor has worn clutch dogs and it will pop out of gear at anything over 1/4 throttle. So, on the suggestion of the guys over at AOMCI.org I opened up the gear case and found this:
The clutch dog is shot, the corners are very worn and rounded on both sides, so I think someone already did the 'pull out the dog and turn it backwards' trick. The lower unit had alot of water intrusion, and whoever had the gearcase apart before I got it looks like they tried to seal it up with silicone and got it all over the place. The little screw holding the shifter arm is junk, that took cutting a slot in it with a chisel to get it out. Also, when out on the lake the old transom in the boat cracked all the way across so no matter what I have to pull the motor off and replace it. Also, the boat is a homemade side console that im not really sure I am all that impressed with. So here are my options so far:
1. Find a used lower unit....I might be able to get one for 250.00 bucks.
2. Order a new clutch dog and seal kit and pray it works...if the clutch dog is worn I am guessing
the gears are as well.
3. Find a new motor (I don't really have the cash for a new motor, I've already sunk more than I wanted to in this boat to get it fishable.)
Any other options I'm overlooking? I just want to get out and fish!
The clutch dog is shot, the corners are very worn and rounded on both sides, so I think someone already did the 'pull out the dog and turn it backwards' trick. The lower unit had alot of water intrusion, and whoever had the gearcase apart before I got it looks like they tried to seal it up with silicone and got it all over the place. The little screw holding the shifter arm is junk, that took cutting a slot in it with a chisel to get it out. Also, when out on the lake the old transom in the boat cracked all the way across so no matter what I have to pull the motor off and replace it. Also, the boat is a homemade side console that im not really sure I am all that impressed with. So here are my options so far:
1. Find a used lower unit....I might be able to get one for 250.00 bucks.
2. Order a new clutch dog and seal kit and pray it works...if the clutch dog is worn I am guessing
the gears are as well.
3. Find a new motor (I don't really have the cash for a new motor, I've already sunk more than I wanted to in this boat to get it fishable.)
Any other options I'm overlooking? I just want to get out and fish!