Boat shifts into gear but prop shaft does not spin

EMP86

Recruit
Joined
Jul 3, 2021
Messages
2
I have a 1985 Chris Craft . The other week I was out idleing in gear and the boat just popped out of gear and would not engage in forward or reverse . It had a weird jangling noise as well .. since then I have went through the lower and upper part of the stern drive and didn't see anything out of place all shafts spin as suppose to by hand .. put it all back together and put it back on the boat .. same problem occurs .. I know the shaft inside the stern drive unit is spinning because the water pump is working . I'm at a lost and don't know what it can be .. any one else ever heard of this or felt with this problem
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
51,254
welcome aboard

could be shift cable is no longer shifting
could be broken shaft like stated above
could be stripped gears in the upper
could be damaged dog clutch assembly
 

EMP86

Recruit
Joined
Jul 3, 2021
Messages
2
When I the lower unit off I could shift it into gear and all shaft would turn when I turned the prop shaft by hand .. then when I put it back together I can't put it into gear and turn the prop shaft by spinning the drive shaft by hand ? That's what is confusing the hell out of me .. ? It all lock up and feels right ... When I put it stern drive back into the boat I can shift it with the shifter and it moves like it's suppose to .. going into forward gear and the prop shaft locks into place .. but when running ...prop shaft does not spin .. it's like something somewhere is not engaging ..
 
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