boat wont go in gear

[wcwbuilderman]

Recently bought a 4winns marquise 170, with a mercruiser 140, 3.8 litre straight 4 cylinder I/O. Last night, before dark, I think I struck a submerged tree, that knocked the prop into the ladder. Now the boat just revs up when put into gear without turning the prop. With the motor off I put it in drive and turned the prop by hand. Made a strange clicking noise, but turned. Would not turn in reverse, turns freely in neutral. Before this happened, there was an obvious bump when shifting into gear. Now the shifter smoothly goes down doing nothing but revving the engine. Definitely would appreciate any help

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: boat wont go in gear

motor starts so you didnt break the crankshaft, so, coupler sheared, upper driveshaft sheared, lower driveshaft sheared, pinion gear broken of lower driveshaft.#15 anywhere
http://mercstuff.com/fichee.htm

 

[wcwbuilderman]

Re: boat wont go in gear

thanks for the reply. I'm wondering though, I'm a decent driveway mechanic. Is this something that is within realm of capabilities? Guess I need to buy the manuel

 

[NHGuy]

Re: boat wont go in gear

With the engine off in forward gear the prop will ratchet when turned forward and stop when turned backward. In reverse the opposite is true, in neutral it just freewheels. If this is your case you need to fine the disconnect further up from the lower unit. As said by BT Doc. If it's broken inside the upper or lower unit it's beyond backyarders. Takes too many special tools and gear builder skills.
But if as you say the lower hit the ladder, was the ladder out of position or did the lower break away from where it normally sits? If the lower got moved too far something may be broken in you gimbal ring which is the drive's pivot and swivel mechanism.

 

[wcwbuilderman]

Re: boat wont go in gear

The ladder was in the down position, but its never hit it like that. One blade on my stainless prop has a serious strike mark to it that I would have noticed before. Whatever I hit, it wasn't nice. Thinking about just taking it to the shop. Is there a way to get in the gear housing just to examine?

 

[cr2k]

Re: boat wont go in gear

Do you have insurance? If comp coverage underwater strike should be covered.