No they don't. If they flex and move you get lost motion. There was an OMC expert named Dave Brown that was the guru on these. That was what he had people do and it is what I did and helped tremendously.The cables need to flex and move.
If you are getting a clunk while applying power, then your dog clutch is shot.
This is the first time you mentioned this issue. Before you said that once it goes into gear, it stays in gear.
If it ever clunked while power is applied, you likely wiped out the dog clutch already. Doesn't take much.
when replacing the dog clutch, do the gears have to be replaced as well?
Ayuh,.... They're matched sets,....
Replacin' just one face, will kill 'em both,....
Then I can take a look at the damage....
Glad you didn't throw in the towel
welcome home to my 06 stingray 22ft