Gears

[LURCHER]

I have just got a Honda 50 which has a damaged gearbox , on close inspection the cog on the vertical driveshaft has a couple of nicks off 2 teeth . My question is can it run as it is ?After cleaning out and chips . If not can I just repace the single cog ar do I have to repacle the gears it meshes with too ?

[jwalker]

It's difficult to know without seeing the gears.

What has caused the chips?

If everything else appears to be fine, look very carefully at the gears to see whether there is any sign of fatigue and, therefore, imminent failure. If not, I'd be tempted to take the corner of an oil stone over the edges of the chips to remove any sharpness, put it all back together and cross your fingers.

If the pinion gear looks pretty knackered, it's up to you whether to replace it alone. Cost it likely to figure in the decision. You'll need to follow a procedure to set the backlash between the pinion and driven gears.

I'm still concerned about what has caused the chipping to occur. Fatigue, foreign objects trapped or botching by someone.

[LURCHER]

I am told that the damage was caused by shifting from forward to astern too fast ! I will take some pic today and post later. My local outboard man has told me i must replace the whole gearset is he just trying to sell me more ?

[Paul F]

No, it would be sound and very wise engineering pratice to change the gear set, as the pinion gear would have been running on ahead and astern gears at some stage and would have worn to suit. Also some minor damage/unusual wear may have occured after pinion gear breakdown. So he is not out to rip you off.
Paul

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by LURCHER

My local outboard man has told me i must replace the whole gearset ..

You can do what you like, it's your engine!

As Paul says, it is good practice to change the whole gear set but that is likely to cost you an arm and a leg. Plus, if you can't do it yourself, you'll need to pay someone to set it up correctly and that will cost. Also, I betcha there aren't too many folk who get the setting up spot on.

It could cost more that the motor's worth.

So it's your call.