Potential omc cobra clutch issue

[gohawks688]

Hey all,
i am looking for help with a potential issue with my lower unit. I have an 88 bayliner trophy with an omc cobra.
Symptoms: drive is removed from boat. When I shift it at the shift lever on the drive theand Spin the prop shaft ( prop removed) there is rotational play in the shaft. Hard to explain but I can rotate the shaft either direction about a quarter of a turn before I hit a hard stop. Can rotate back and forth back and forth. No resistance at all until I hit the stop. (Does this in Forward and reverse). I am assuming that it should be fully locked when in gear.

I fear this is a damaged dog clutch issue?
Any trouble shooting ideas before I have to tear into the lower unit?

Thanks guys

 

[Pipe101]

I hope its normal, 87 cobra drive and it does the same. Haven't been able to test on water......ramps are all closed in my area.

 

[Redrig]

I honestly think thats normal , I dont have my boat handy to test on mine. But here is a pic of some gears , the best that I could find. There is gonna be some rotational slop from where the dog clutch locks into the gear.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Johnson-Ev...918012?hash=item288db197bc:g:WXoAAOSwoFxeMzVj

I say dont worry about it unless its jumping out of gear while underway , then obviously its slipping

 

[gohawks688]

Glad to have some verification that it seems normal. It stays in gear on the water fine, never had a problem with that.
shifting into and out of gear is another problem. Still chasing down the elusive "shifts with a finger"
took the drive off and going back through the shift adjustments using the midnight wolf tools.