40 HP lowewr unit problem

[Fish2win]

Yesterday while floating a river the lower unit onm my 83 thru 89 40 HP Yamaha went out. I was running up stream and suddenly the motor acted as if the prop had sheared a pin. Knowing this is not possibloe I got into the bank and checked the lower unit. If you turn the prop you will hear a scraping noise at the extreme top of the lower unit where the drive shaft would hook up. The lower unit itself was dry of grease. It did not lock up but obviously did something in the drive shaft. Is there a part in the upper drive shaft that would strip in order to save some other gear.The noise is definatly from the upper conection. There is no resistance on the prop in either gear position. Is this a common repair.Fish2win

[jb123]

ensure you are going in and out of gear, try it manually as you may have an issue with your shift shaft. if not then probably internal,gears or driveshaft.