[harepace]

I have a 1986 9.9 mercury outboard. I took it out for the first time on friday. It started fine then I put it into forward gear and it started banging around and smokin we didn't make it too far. I then shut the motor off, we let the kids swim for awhile then restarted the motor we now only have neutral and reverse. I put the motor on the workbench, when you turn the throttle to reverse the prop is in gear and does not move, in forward the prop spins freely any help would be great...

[WillyBWright]

Welcome to iboats.What does the gearlube look like? If it's full of metal, you ate the forward gear. The pinion is probably also damaged. Reverse may have survived. Methinks you have no teeth left on the forward gear. Hopefully I'm wrong. If you hit something and that damaged it, homeowners insurance may cover it (it could've failed now from damage caused earlier). If it was from lack of gearlube, you're out of luck.

[harepace]

Thanks for your reply Willy. Could you please tell me how to check the gear lube and the pinion,this is my first boat and motor and am really new to this..Thanks again.

[kev_79]

In front of the prop, on the skeg, below the bulge in the lower unit, should be a plug.Remove plugAbove the prop, toward the front of the boat, should have another plug labeled vent.Remove that plugLube (and possibly your clutch or forward gear) should drain out My guess is that since you still have reverse, you have destroyed your clutch and hopefully your forward gear is fine. If your pinion is destroyed, you will likely no longer have reverse either.Let us know what you find.k

[harepace]

I took it to an expert and he said i have no forward gear. There was alot of metal filings in the gear lube area. I will have to take it apart to see how the clutch is ect..Thanks for your help its a great site...