Driveshaft whirr

Hi guys,

I read a bunch of threads on this subject already but I thought I would ask from my own perspective.

I have a 1986 (Good year - I’m also 31) Nautique 2001 with 351.

She’s a hurting unit but it tows my kids so that’s all I care about.

I lost reverse last year and she’s also developed a dirty neutral.
I was winterizing today and when I ran the boat on the trailer
the dirty neutral was causing a whirring noise in the driveline.
The boat ran for a short time while I ran some sea foam in it.
I assume this is because the cutlass isn’t getting any water.

I didn’t run for long... (probably 2 minutes) and eventually the noise
quit and even the dirty neutral became slower to virtually a stop.

My questions are:

1:) should I be redoing the packing material?
2:) do you foresee any issues caused by running
The cutlass dry for a short period of time.

It’s not as though the prop was moving real fast....
But I do have a terrible case of dirty neutral.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Dwight - As far as repacking the gland

That would be a good fall/winter or spring project.

If it has never been done (good chance) then it would be a worthy $10 project.

Get the Gore-tex packing material

Check the alignment while you have the rear floor out.

Cutlass is probably fine, if you smoked it, it is due for replacement anyway.