Some thoughts would help. Last year, hit a log, cracked lower. drained lower of oil and a ton of water. Insurace paid the local shop to rebuild lower and allowed for new lower housing too.
When I used the boat for the first time late 07 after repair the port side(repaired) was hard to shift. Had to force it, used 4 times to end of year.
So here is the big delema. Fired boat up few days ago for first time let run with muffs on it for 1/2 hr and tune carb. Now wont shift at all. Took back to shop. Drive no oil, bearing carrier pushed out probably due to water behind it then freezing, gears rusted upper, lower now shot. If this lower unit was rebuilt with new housing, what happend to oil, how did water get in and destroy upper and lower? the new lower is a sealed unit other than transfer areas between the upper and lower.
My thouhts are water had gone through upper last year when they fixed lower and they did not check upper. Then bearings and seals begin to rust, leak and waller out and allowing shafts to move around. Then eventially allowing water and oil to mix, leak then fail..
Oh and the bellows looks ok.... any mech. out there that have any ideas.
The shop is unsure what happend but they got their $2,420.00 last year.