First of all, I'm new to outboard motor repair, so please assume I know zilch in your replies. However, I am quite mechanically inclined and I expect I'll catch on pretty quickly.<br /><br />With that being said, I was out in my boat this weekend fishing. After fishing one spot for an hour or so, we decided to move. I started the motor and threw it into forward. There was an audible cluck and then no more forward gear. Reverse still works fine.<br /><br />The throttle cables appeared to be working fine, so I knew that wasn't the problem. And actually, that's all I knew to check at the time. I was at a loss. But once I got home I fired the motor up again, and using a needle nose pliars to manipulate the linkages on the motor just a little further than the throttle cables, I was able to get forward to engage.<br /><br />Judging from the little bit of info I've gathered so far, I'm guessing that some sort of gears are shot in the lower unit. <br /><br />What do you all think? Can these gears be replaced? If they can, where can I buy the replacement gears? I really don't want to spend $1000+ for an entire new lower unit for my $3000 boat, if I can avoid it.<br /><br />Thank-you in advance!