Re: engine dies in gear
I took it to the lake yesterday and it worked in forward no problem for several laps. We went back to the dock and went out again. We put it in forward and idled to let out a ski rope. I jumped in and when my dad tried to put it in gear to bring me the rope, it wouldn't go in gear. It didn't kill the engine, but it wouldn't engage the prop. We loaded it up on the trailer and went home. It is hard to shift when the engine is running, but when the engine is off, it shifts easily and the prop catches. The problem is only evident when the engine is running. We've concluded that it must be something wrong in the lower unit. When it froze last year, it stripped out the threads and broke bearing carrier. Do you think when it froze it bent the propshaft or bent the shift crank? Don, when you said "(usually the lower one in the drive)" did you mean the shift crank or the actual shift shaft? or the shift shaft coupler? (brass) Yes when we pulled the drive for the first time last year, the cotter pin on the shift plate had come out with out us knowing it so when we shifted the control in forward it didn't shift the lower unit. So, it is possible that something is bent. (It bent the shift shaft coupler- the brass one) so I replaced it. Any ideas? Sorry for the long post. Basically I think it must be a bent propshaft, or a bent shift crank in the lower unit. I intend to pull the lower unit and investigate further, but if anyone has any ideas they are appreciated.
