I have a 500EFI that just stops running randomly at between 30 seconds and 3 minutes from the time that i start it. When i put it into gear regardless of how long it has been running it dies instantly.

I have checked for vapor lock and drive seems to spin and sound fine so i dont think it is either of those although i have had issues with vapor lock in the past. Also made sure it was not safety switches on shifters.

engine has about 180 hours on it.

when engine stops it stops very quickly, no sputtering or anything.

I was thinking fuel (maybe the fuel pump) issue so was going to put a pressure gauge on the rail.

Is there something else i should check first? Any other advice?

fuel filter? start simple.

An abrupt stop is typically electrical (i.e. ignition) related.

Only happens when you put into gear?.... Drive oil reservoir low?

reservoir is empty on that side, have broken fitting at transom (Drive is still full of oil BTW), but has been that way for about 2 hours of running time and the issue just now started happening. Could that still be the problem?

Theres a sensor at bottom of reservoir, if its low or empty, it will cut engine as safety to avoid drive damage. I would get your broken fitting fixed first and see what happens before you start going further. Start simple and go from there.

+1 Ignition control module in the distributor cap will cause these type symptoms. My 502 will burn one up in 100 hours.

Ok this is really helpful, starting simple would be changing fuel filter (I had planned on doing that) and maybe I will pour some gear oil into reservoir or jumper the sensor to see if that makes a difference. Trying not to fix reservoir fitting until after this season as it requires the drive to be pulled.

After that move on to ignition, but will the motor run for that random period of time if the ECM is bad??? seems strange...

Not the ECM the ICM in the distributor. $80 part that goes in the cap.(don't quote me on price)

And yes, it will cause several different symptoms including...start and run fine then completely die running down the lake on plane. You'd swear it was a fuel problem. Like someone closed the tap.

This should be sending an alarm, unless its been jumped around, there's two fuel pumps on your engine, a lift pump in between the tank and the water separator filter and the high pressure pump that feeds the rail, it could be electrical or fuel, Id deff put a gauge on the rail, should be 42-45 psi