1990 200HP Yamaha locked up V20

scubamook

New member
when I turn the key it just makes a click noise
mechanic says its locked up
he pulled the plugs they were clean
he said it maybe the lower unit that has seized

Is there a way to check the lower unit while the boat is in the water?

I am not sure if it is worth fixing if it is the power-head

It will cost to pull the boat to have the lower unit checked; Is it throwing away money?

Sell or try to fix?

Thanks
Michael
 
Some of this will sound like I'm being a smartass, is it in neutral, is the safety lanyard attached, can you move the flywheel with your hands, can you spin the prop with your hands, does the prop budge at all, is the battery charged?
 
the throttle is in Neutral
The prop spins
The flywheel is behind a cover and does not move with finger pressure

turn the key it is a heavy Click

Michael
 
There's a small gap between the lower unit and the mid section. Make sure you can see that the shift rod has not corroded through. The lower unit may feel like it's in neutral, but the upper shift rod thinks the motor is in gear. That vintage Yamaha is notorious for corroded shift shafts.
 
the throttle is in Neutral
The prop spins
The flywheel is behind a cover and does not move with finger pressure

turn the key it is a heavy Click

Michael

We have had this happen quite a few times where a dirt dauber built a nest next to the starter/flywheel. This would not let us spin the starter or flywheel.
 
if its in a lift, this could get funny, so make sure someone is filming, put the shifter in forward, apply pressure on the port side of the engine on the prop(step on the prop blade, wear good shoes). You're trying to rotate the propeller counter clockwise as viewed from the rear. Put some weight on it once you hear it lock in gear, see if you can turn the motor over by rotating the propeller(pull the spark plugs out and it will be easier), this is about the time you fall in the water, so make sure you film it
 
An engine that quit while running is not a good sign anytime. Sounds like it was run without oil in the gas or it overheated.. Is that possible? Do you use premix or the VRO? If VRO have you checked it? Is there oil in the tank? What about the impeller? In all cases I think you're going to have to pull the boat to look at the engine closer. First step is to understand why it's locked up. Once you do that then you can go from there.. Fix or replace.
 
That info adds a lot to the equation, I'd say go motor shopping. Verify what chum said,, but given you can spin prop in neutral, put it in forward and reverse and see if prop acts accordingly. If so, I'd say something in the powerhead.
 
Back
Top