Ok some picture to share ....the verdict ?

Three more

Pretty chunky,Ive been there Prob the lower gear [sp]breneiling,I would say it needs to come apart.

Looks like gear material to me. I would pull the propshaft and inspect the gears. I would venture to say you will see missing metal on some of the teeth, along a line in the center of the face of the tooth, and on one or more of them. Before you remove the propshaft, rotate it in both directions to see what it feels like, then look. I'll bet the gears are worn out. Thank you very much Mercury Marine.
How much power? Prop size? Weight of boat?

Dick

Thanks guy , a 288 Sunsation 5000 lbs, 525 EFI , and B1 30 lab , just before summer vacation
thanks again

I need special tool to remove the prop shaft ? ,
Thanks

Yes you do, and just that tool is about $150+, but unless you’re planning on fixing it yourself bring it to someone who has the tools and know how. Vinny P showed me how to do it this spring and I bought the tools. You will be out a grand or more in tools, so if you’re not planning on doing this regularly hire a pro. Dick is the master.

20 hours ! Warranty ?? What year is yours? I thought you just bought it this spring?

Hello Jeff , sorry for my bad english , it`s 20 hrs after i put a new upper on my old lower (`06) , sorry for the confusion
Regards
Christian

to take it apart you can do it yourself,the retainer ring has tabs bent over, straighten them and take a hammer and punch and spin off the retainer nut ,like a regular nut ,nut and tab washer will come out, the bearing carrier will come out,you might have to put 2 bolts in the bolt holes,twist/turn etc and it should come out, there glued in usually with perfect seal, gooey crap,shaft will come out then ya can see the gears.take anode off also,hope this helps


Then ya can send it to Mr Gadgets