77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

[Jcjimmi1]

Let me start by saying thank you to the stranger that helped me get my boat in off the lake tonite, hope he a member of this forum... Got a 77 Reinell 200 with a mercruiser 120 under the cover, i was running it and shifted it from fwd to neutral no problem when i was stopping, then i shifted in to reverse to stop and when i did the engine idled high and i heard a loud whirrrrrrrrrr from somewhere under the engine cover, noticed the engine temp quickly going through the roof too. Got it in and too the cap off the leg, oil was good and all the gears appeared to be good. Put it in gear and turned the prop and say all the gears in the leg turning as i think they should. When i was turning the prop it had VERY LITTLE resistance though. Is there a clutch or something between the engine and the leg?

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

Either you broke a shaft or a gear.<br /><br />OR<br /><br />You spun the driveshaft that connects to the engine.<br /><br />TMD

 

[Jcjimmi1]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

Wow, thats sounds like its going to take some time to fix, whats the best way to find out for sure?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

Pull the Outdrive,+ See What's Turning Where.......<br />By your discreption I Think you've Spun the Coupler.... Either way, The First Step is to pull the Outdrive.....

 

[Jcjimmi1]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

could the fact i cannot get my boat in gear also be why i get no water from the lower unit? how does the pump work, i got my book but its sooooo vague

 

[loadnet]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

..sticking my neck out here a little but I believe that impellar will not pump water if the drive isn't spinning, thus the reason your temp shot up on you right after you heard the noise...<br /><br />If I'm wrong I'm sure someone here will let us both know..<br />

 

[Jcjimmi1]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

well pulled the out drive, the splines on the prop shaft were caked with shavings, looked in the bell housing and saw no splines on the receiving end, the engine side. Not good eh?

 

[Skinsk]

Re: 77 Merc Will Not Go In Gear

A few things could have cause you to strip your coupler. <br /><br />-One or both of your rear motor mounts going bad. <br />-Your front motormount lock nut coming loose and a allowing the motor to fall out of alignment. <br />-The front motor mount bed could be rotten, or could have broken loose.<br />-Your transom could be soft and or rotten.<br />-Or it could have been a very long time since someone thought it a good idea to put spling grease on the drive shaft splines..<br /><br />Anyway, you will have to pull the motor to install a new coupler. I'd suggest replacing all three motor mounts as well. <br /><br />Good luck..<br /><br />Scott..