Patent ID: 6022251
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: B63H,F01N,F01P,F02B

Abstract:
An outboard drive for a marine propulsion system which includes an engine, the outboard drive comprising an upper housing and a lower unit that includes a strut and a nacelle, the strut depending downward from the upper housing and the nacelle being attached to a lower end of the strut, the nacelle housing a transmission that is driven by a drive shaft coupled to the engine and is operated by a shift rod, the shift rod and the drive shaft extending through the strut of the lower unit and arranged therein such that the shift rod lies closer to the drive shaft than to a leading edge of the strut, the transmission selectively coupling the engine to a propulsion shaft of a propulsion device which the lower unit supports, a water pump located at a junction between the lower unit and the upper housing, and a water cooling system which supplies cooling water to the engine, the water cooling system including at least one water inlet having a plurality of openings that open into an influent end of a water passage that extends between the water inlet and the water pump, the water passage being positioned on the front side of the transmission.