Hi, although I had the lower unit off the gear rod was only disconnected at the double threaded nut on the rod. I didn't see any oil strainer, but then again I wasn't looking for one. I did have a bit of an issue last time out with the boat though. The dyke where I moor my boat is heavily silted and quite weedy, there isn't a lot of flow in and out so its basically a dead end. As I was leaving the mooring I went into reverse and the revs climbed but engine didn't shift into reverse. In fact the engine kicked up out of the water quite violently. After shutting down I tilted the engine and found the prop clogged with fibrous weed that took an age to shift. After that everything was fine until I noticed no water through the tell tale. Temperature gauge was reading OK, I was on the main river so nosed into some reeds and killed the engine again. A couple of tilts up and down of the engine and water was once more streaming through the tell tale. Can only assume the outlet had been clogged with the silt churned up in the dyke during the reversing episode.
Thanks for the reply. The engine shouldn't kick up in reverse.The Tohatsu has some sort of ratchet mechanism that locks it in the down position in neutral and reverse,but is free to swing up in forward gear.This is to prevent damage if the prop leg hits the bottom or a shopping trolley.Perhaps you need to check this function on your engine. The best way to clear a blocked tell tale,is to use a length of plastic strimmer cord.Not wire! the tube is rubber and wire could damage it.
Yes I know about the mechanism. Mine was incorrectly assembled right from the factory. There is a plastic block on the gear selector rod that should sit below the ratchet catch...on mine it is above! There is a squared off section on the rod that I think the block is supposed to clamp around. The issue was made worse by a friend chocking the motor in the tilt position by jamming a wooden block in the mechanism for towing when we used the outboard on my Dory.
Sounds as if it needs a good dose of looking at. When the motor is tilted up,there is a locking catch port side near the mount. If your motor has been mistreated,then perhaps the gear rod may have been bent. Hope you get it sorted,best of luck.
Tohatsu Prop positions
Posted - 03 Aug 2020 : 15:13:21
