1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

[CaptnReinell]

Hi,
I have a 1981 Viking With a 260 Mercruiser I/O. Just out today and propped up to 19P from 15P. Got out to the crib about 5 miles running fine. coming back to port cruising about 2500 RPM It popped out of gear and whaaahed the motor. Shut it down and thought i spun the hub. started it back up went to shift into foward nada, reverse NADA. Had to get towed back in. I did notice coming back the idle dropped a little like something was putting strain on the motor. A few seconds after that it popped out of gear and all I have now is a flotation Device. Any Advice would be appreciated.
Oh yeah when I lock the unit by hand into forward or reverse I can turn the prop. If I am correct the prop shouldnt move. I hate to think it but my intuition says the upprer or lower is F&%ked up.
again appreciate the advice.

 

[futz]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

coupler went

 

[jtybt]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

Is the prop shaft moving when you turn the prop? How hard is it to turn?

Could be coupler or gears.

 

[CaptnReinell]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

Is the prop shaft moving when you turn the prop? How hard is it to turn?

Could be coupler or gears.

I think i can hear the impeller move

 

[ErieRon]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

Here's what I know; I spun my engine coupler splines recently, I can shift forward and reverse and the prop locks accordingly (ratchets one way and locked the other way in either gear). So, I knew it wasn't my shift cable or gears. Thanks to Don S. I diagnosed that I spun my coupler splines. If I were you, I would look at the lower shift cable and/or gears. If it was your engine coupler only, it would still engage gears. Because it doesn't, probably the cable or gears...

Also, the correct manual can be a huge help...available in the "sticky" at the top of this forum; http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

 

[jtybt]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

The fact that the pop shaft is turning is not good news. Means gears or coupler gone. Either way the drive has to come off. You should be able to tell where the bad news is.

 

[CaptnReinell]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

The fact that the pop shaft is turning is not good news. Means gears or coupler gone. Either way the drive has to come off. You should be able to tell where the bad news is.

gears in the upper or lower unit??

 

[xltier]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

take the cover off the top of the drive and look at the gears.

 

[CaptnReinell]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

Well Inevitably the worst has come to pass. Took the top cover off and the gears are toast. There wasnt any fluid in it either. I filled it before we went out. I found one from someone in port clinton (Lairds Marine) He is going to reseal and pressure check one for 400.00. I am debating on wether I should just rebuild mine?

 

[futz]

Re: 1981 Mercruiser 260 Popped out of gear cant get foward or reverse

gears alone are over 400 dollars you got a great deal.