[iworkoncarsnotboats]

I have an old Starcraft with a '70 Merc 65hp. Engine ran fine all last summer. I replaced the water pump mid summer, and since that repair reverse worked better. When I parked it, I drained the water and fuel. While getting ready for lake weather this month, I found that it will not go into gear. I was getting a grinding noise in F and nothing in R. Dropped the lower unit hoping to find the problem at the shift shaft, as far as I can tell that wasn't it. I pulled the prop and rotated the drive shaft by hand everything seemed fine. With the prop on, and the nut slightly loose I can get both F and R. If I spin the prop opposite of the drive direction (in either gear) the prop shaft moves out slightly, and I no longer have F or R unless I hold pressure against the prop shaft. The lower unit is still off.

I don't really know what to check at this point, and I'm not sure how to disassemble anymore than I already have.

Any help as well as any exploded diagrams would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

[Laddies]

It sounds like the lower unit froze and has pushed the carrier part of the way out, check it.