4 Engine Coupler Failures, Why???
 

I have a friend that has a 2001 Cig with stock 500efis. He said he got caught up on some brush,tree limbs something like that at TickFaw poker run and tried to get on plane and spun out the hubs.No prop damage.I wasn't on the boat so I really dont know what happened. He had 2 new ones put in and supposedly had the engines aligned:rolleyes: Now after about 5 hours of running this past weekend they spun out again. Again I wasnt in the boat so I dont know what he was doing? He is New to powerboats and is 67 years old.I have told him about not stabbing it getting on plane and not jumping it out of the water.After they cool off it will get back on plane but slips after about 5 miles.

My question is can jumping out of the water or really leaning on it getting on plane cause this? I know of a lot of people that abuse their stuff and dont have this prob, Or even have 900plus HP going thru them.

The only other thing I am thinking is engine alignment is off?

Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help
Rob


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he was a nice guy, that sucks about his luck:(

a soft transom can eat couplers..but the boats not that old...my guess is alignment..any vibrations?? sticky u joint etc???

I'm not sure what he's running over but I ran my coupler (hp/xr style though) behind 750 hp for 2 years and 950 hp for 1 full season and part of a 2nd until I switched to the stellings box last year and it still looks like new,I'm getting ready to run it some more. There is something else going on here he needs to figure out,Smitty

make sure the the drives are aligned and if the coupler has been replaced, make sure the correct one was used. something is not right

I would also replace with the HD couplers used on the 575sci and up-#21 in the diagram.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...ler+Components

With offshore mounts, alignment is not an adjustment. It has to be an alignment issue. I had to redrill all my Aluminum mounts. I used HD couplers as suggested. They are not forgiving for mis-alignment. Also check the yoke shaft to make sure that the splines are flat. Tell us what you find.

Alignment

spun out the hubs? are they metal?

I had a problem last year after getting a crab trap line caught around a prop. It acted very much like a coupler problem and ended up being a slightly worn clutch in the drive. The problem would come and go.

good luck

Two thought's,,,,, Alignment and buy the latest HD Coupler ,, check the input drive shaft for sharp edge'S ,,, they will eat the spline then run crooked

RHC