Nobody?

 

It is probably the cone clutch in the outdrive. It is a large expensive gear that uses friction to engage. It is probably worn out and needs to be replaced. If you continue increasing the throttle to engage reverse, causing the loud clunk, you will end up breaking additional stuff.

 

Sounds like your cone clutch. I had to replace mine in the 240 somewhere around 650 hours. a little pricey, seems like it was $1200 or so, but it has been a couple years.

 

That was my first thought. The only thing that confuses me is that everything I have seen online suggests that once the clutch goes bad the RPM had to be up every time to get it to engage. Mine only happens occasionally.

 

A few thoughts:

Check the hardware on the moving portion of the shift plate.
Tighten the nuts snug then back them off 1/2 turn.
The washer under each nut must be able to rotate freely.

Watch the shift cable as you shift between forward and reverse. See if anything looks odd. The actuator pushing forward is actually reverse gear.
The actuator pulling back is forward gear.

Can you verify that the proper fluid was used?

How old is it? Sometimes a fluid change helps.

 

A few thoughts:

Check the hardware on the moving portion of the shift plate.
Tighten the nuts snug then back them off 1/2 turn.
The washer under each nut must be able to rotate freely.

Watch the shift cable as you shift between forward and reverse. See if anything looks odd. The actuator pushing forward is actually reverse gear.
The actuator pulling back is forward gear.

Can you verify that the proper fluid was used?

How old is it? Sometimes a fluid change helps.

Thanks for the thoughts. Fortunately my mechanic is going to look at it today. It has always had Quicksilver High Performance 90W gear oil, which was changed in August of last year. The actuator appeared to be working properly. After a lot of research, I am leaning towards cone clutch. The motor and drive have 654 hours on them, so that would track. Hopefully it is something simpler. I will see what my mechanic has to say.

 

Mine started to hesitate going into gear as well right before it started making all kinds of horrible sounds. I probably should have picked up on that sooner.

Might have something to do with the event last summer where I found some coral.

Buying a new drive hurt!

 

Mine started to hesitate going into gear as well right before it started making all kinds of horrible sounds. I probably should have picked up on that sooner.

Might have something to do with the event last summer where I found some coral.

Buying a new drive hurt!

Well, I need a new cone clutch a $1,800. $300 of that is for the mechanic picking up my boat on his trailer and taking it to his shop. I don't have a trailer.

 

Hopefully he gets you back on the water quickly.