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Old     (hamkj)      Join Date: Apr 2002       09-02-2012, 9:40 AM Reply   
Hello all, learned something new.

A friend of mine is in the process of selling his boat, it is just a couple of model years older than mine, but much more pristine because he never used it.

A few years ago, his son was putting the boat on the trailer and came in a bit off angle and panicked, long story shot... bent up the prop on the trailer.

So I lent him a prop that I had for my boat. Since that was at the end of the season, they never really used the boat again. Now a couple of years have gone by and they have not been on the boat much, so they are in the process of selling it.

A potential buyer wants to go for a test drive... long story short... the boat is having severe cavitation.

So I give him another brand new prop to try out... still major cavitation.

So now he is really confused. Checked the following:

Tracking fins. GOOD.
Rudder. GOOD.

So then I finally go out on the boat with him as he said it isnt even driveable unless you go straight and minor turns.

I jump in the boat, and launch it.

First thing I notice is there is a bout 2 second hesitation once it is in gear for the boat to start moving.

Then we get it up to speed 2500-3000 rpms and do some hard right turns... no problem.
Then he says, try a hard left turn... and the boat CAVITATES, or at least that what it feels like.

So I do some more trouble shooting... since I have the exact same boat I notice that his steering wheel turns way more than mine does so I am starting to think it is a rudder issue, since when I do minor turns that boat performs fine.

Keep in mind we have talked to the boat manufacturer, prop manufacturer, transmission company, and 3 boat mechanics, none who have been on the boat.

I do a couple more hard left turns and notice that the rpms dont shoot up, but dropped to 1500rpms... and then hovers there for about 4 seconds, then drops back to idling.

Silly us.... we didnt check the tranny fluid... it was low... so what was happening is the right turns the fluid was still circulating properly, but on hard left turns, there was not enough fluid... so it was the tranny slipping, not cavitation.

It had everyone stumped for a bit. Good thing it was not run like this for long... could have been disastrous.

So he drained the tranny fluid... no metal findings.... filled it up... test drove it last night and texted me... ITS ALL GOOD!

Hope this helps anyone now or in the future if you run into symptoms like that.

Have a great long weekend!!!
Old     (501s)      Join Date: Feb 2010       09-02-2012, 1:04 PM Reply   
Great post with great info. Thanks for sharing.
Old     (cwb4me)      Join Date: Apr 2010       09-02-2012, 1:34 PM Reply   
Thanks for the info,I'm sure someone will benefit from this information.Just shows it's not always what you think.
Old     (gatorboy112)      Join Date: Aug 2012       09-03-2012, 8:51 PM Reply   
thanks! crazy how the simplest things can cause so many issues!
Old     (markj)      Join Date: Apr 2005       09-03-2012, 11:03 PM Reply   
What kind of boat?
Old     (hamkj)      Join Date: Apr 2002       09-03-2012, 11:51 PM Reply   
I don't want to get into naming the "brand" of boat, because it has nothing to do with the boat builder.

I will say it is a Mercruiser Mag350 with a Walter V-Drive 1:1.

I talked to him again today and he checked all levels... all is good and all the fluids were sparkly clean.

The new owner will take possession next weekend.

The boat is a 2000 and it looks like it has never been used.
Old     (grant_west)      Join Date: Jun 2005       09-04-2012, 8:58 AM Reply   
A friend of my'n had the same thing happen to him on his PCM transmission. He ran low on fluid and he had the same "Delay" when you would put it in gear. After he filled it back up with fluid a few months later the trany needed a rebuild. With the limited amount of fluid the PCM tranny holds its very important NOT to run it low. I hope the new buyer has no problems
Old     (grant_west)      Join Date: Jun 2005       09-04-2012, 9:27 AM Reply   
A friend of my'n had the same thing happen to him on his PCM transmission. He ran low on fluid and he had the same "Delay" when you would put it in gear. After he filled it back up with fluid a few months later the trany needed a rebuild. With the limited amount of fluid the PCM tranny holds its very important NOT to run it low. I hope the new buyer has no problems

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