4.3 L Cobra Shift rod not engaging?

[BlueBeast]

1989 Four Winns Freedom 4.3 L OMC Cobra

The positions of the shift rod on the lower unit are what? Is all the way up neutral, middle forward, and all the way down reverse? I can turn the prop shaft freely either way in all positions. In the all the way down position I can see the the vertical splines turning. I have a bad feeling somethings wrong...

I took the out drive apart because I couldn't shift into either gear. I found out the upper drive gears are destroyed, so it wasn't even biting or meshing. Now the shift rod isnt engaging and I believe the lower gears are shot too.

Thank you

 

[Speak]

Sounds bad. - what happened here? Is there more to the story? Gears in a cobra upper usually shred due to incorrect fill procedure. Did u recently change the gear oil ?

 

[bruceb58]

Middle is neutral. Make sure you are rotating the prop while shifting.