Mercruiser 5.7 Alpha One 1.47 not shifting at all

[vetting]

Was powering out to go fish and suddenly lost momentum and the RPMs spiked. Turned it off immediately thinking I spun the prop. Started it back up and had no fwd or reverse at any RPM. At the time I was thinking with a spun prop I could at least get it to grab at a lower RPM. So we ended up just using the kicker motor the rest of the night. Went back down the the slip today to take a closer look. Started right up and same no shift condition. Unhooked the shift linkage from the motor and manually tried to shift it in both directions and it didnt even make a noise. So Im thinking something let loose with the linkage in the outdrive. Going to pull the outdrive tomorrow. Is there anything in particular that I should be looking for?

 

[vetting]

Also wanted to note, there was never any "bad" noises that came from the outdrive the entire time.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If your getting hot, suspect the coupler.

 

[vetting]

Engine in the slip today never got hot and can see the shaft spinning in the engine bay. I also had the outdrive gone through and and all of the seals replaced over the winter.

 

[vetting]

If it was the coupler, wouldnt you hear the drive shift into gear? We could slide the cable in and out rapidly by hand from the engine side without any noise at all.

 

[Bt Doctur]

defective cable or the SS washer is missing from the splined lower shift shaft

 

[achris]

If the coupler was gone, nothing in the drive is moving, you wouldn't hear anything.

 

[vetting]

If the coupler roasted itself, the shaft wouldnt spin at all in the engine bay right?

Also, Im always make sure every year the drive is perfectly aligned - like can push the alignment tool in with 1 finger without grease using blue tool dye.

 

[vetting]

With the boat out of the water, shifting would should still lock the prop right?

Just making a list of stuff to try in the morning.

Of course this all happened on the first day of the biggest fishing tournament of the year - 9 day tournament.

 

[achris]

With the boat out of the water, shifting would should still lock the prop right?....

yes

 

[vetting]

With the drive off Manually spun the yoke with it in gear and the prop in fwd. Spun easily. Drained the oil and all completely silver. Found a new unit for 2200 - the guys says a 1.5 is the same as a 1.47 alpha one.....that can't be right is it?

 

[vetting]

Put the brand new merc outdrive on for 2200. Runs like a champ

 

[achris]

... - the guys says a 1.5 is the same as a 1.47 alpha one.....that can't be right is it?

Yes. The tooth count was changed in the lower housing from 17:28 to 13:21, supposedly to reduce noise. It also reduced the overall ratio by 1%. Which is likely not even enough for you to notice on the tacho.

Chris.........

 

[vetting]

Here is what the gear oil that came out of the old outdrive. I looked it up - total of 6 hours on a full reseal and yoke replacement.