Stuck in neutral

[schmidt99]

End of last summer prop hit rock at day camp as we were leaving. Replaced prop over the winter, engine (Merc 350 V-drive) runs perfect but can not get out of neutral (no reverse, can not get to engage into gear). Cable shifts and appears to be fine. I heard there may be a "safety" switch that kills gears in case of this kind of accident as to not ruin transmission?

Any ideas?

[dogbert]

Did you bend the shaft?

[da.bell]

^^^ ditto

How much damage to the prop was there? If there was too much damage, could the V-drive be damaged? IDK

[schmidt99]

had shaft checked and they said no. the mechanic had it on water and said it was fine prior to me actually putting it in lake

[schmidt99]

prop had 3 of 4 blades bent at tips. I shut off engine at first sound of contact

[da.bell]

If the mechanic said it was fine, how did he know it was okay? The mechanic should have tested the prop rotation to see if it works

[da.bell]

prop had 3 of 4 blades bent at tips. I shut off engine at first sound of contact

If the prop wasn't a stainless steel prop, you should be okay IMO. I would have the mechanic recheck what he did..

or

Is the button on the throttle handle stuck in neutral?

[schmidt99]

checked and button is not stuck in neutral.

[chpthril]

Bent output shaft wont effect that portion of the drive-train, if it shifts into forward gear, as posted, it should shift into reverse, bent shaft would rotate either direction. Transmission controls this, not the V-dive in which the output shaft it bolted to.

When you heard that sound we love so much, how hard did you yank it out of gear?

[schmidt99]

normal shift when we hit rock, we were in the middle of turning in a small cove at 1-2 MPH.

From looking, when throttle is shifted into gear and into revers, cables appear to be moving gear shifts but won't get out of neutral. It feels like something slipped and needs to be re-set for lack of better description (I'm not mechanical).

[chpthril]

I may be reading it wrong is it just reverse you dont have? You say "reverse" and "gear", but dont mention "forward"

[schmidt99]

i have neither forward or reverse

[chpthril]

Ok, gotcha, then a bent shaft and or rudder could be the cause. When you attempt to shift into gear, does the engine seem to bog down in any way, change sound, drop in RPM's?

[schmidt99]

no, engine runs perfect. when I attempt to shift into gear engine remains constant like it does while idling. No drop in RPMs or sound. That's why i am curiopus if it is simple fix like re-engaging something that allows gear shift?

[chpthril]

no, engine runs perfect. when I attempt to shift into gear engine remains constant like it does while idling. No drop in RPMs or sound. That's why i am curiopus if it is simple fix like re-engaging something that allows gear shift?

For the most part, it's mechanical. moving the manual valve (shift level) sends fluid pressure to the clutch pack which locks up the input and output shafts.

If there was a change in the engine, it would indicate the trans is engaging and something was binding like a bent shaft/rudder. Trans fluid level, checked it???