Transmission Problems?

[Pat Graves]

I have a 1985 27' Catalina. When I put the boat in gear it goes about 100 yds, the engine loads up like theres a heavy strain on it and stops running.The motor will start right back up, but as soon as you put it in gear it will try to stall again.If you slip it back in neutral just before it dies it will stay running.But,at that point its hard to move the shift lever.I've checked the prop and shaft,its clean.The trans.fluid is ok.When the trans. is in neutral the shaft will turn by hand.What do you think,is it my transmission.Thanks for any help.

 

[Steve W]

try this first...

disconnect the coupling at the transmission/shaft interface, slip the shaft back about an inch, start the engine, put it in gear and see if it stalls. This will at least confirm or eliminate a binding problem with the cutlass bearing and stuffing box. Also you may have some clear monoflint line wrapped around the shaft that is hard to see when diving underwater. Sometimes a shaft will turn by hand but when a load (high rpm) is introduced, it goes into a bind. Good Luck