Prop spinning in neutral

Restoring a 89' SN that I purchased last Nov. It needed a lot of work. Engine was seized and after much work and numerous parts, we got the engine running. We haven't had the boat in the water yet. I noticed that while running the engine on the trailer (w/ water hookup), the prop will spin slowly (maybe 60 -80 RPM's per minute) in neutral. I am able to stop the spinning somewhat easily by applying some pressure on the trans coupler (w/ a 2x4). Trans seems to operate smoothly in and out of gear. The spinning will stop as I increase throttle in neutral. Is the spinning in neutral at idle normal? I would think maybe the spinning will slow once in the water with prop load applied. Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Like Kristof said, it's referred to as a "dirty neutral"

It's not really normal, but if you can easily stop the shaft with your 2 X4, I'd leave it alone, put it in the water and see how it acts, then decide if you need to do something about it..

Plenty of boats running around out there with a dirty neutral for years and years without any issues.

In the link below are a bunch of threads about that "dirty neutral"

Keep in mind that on an 89 you have the PCM 1.23 to 1 transmission when reading about this

link

PS hope you're wetting the strut and cutlass bearing when you're bumping it into gear on the trailer or you'll be putting undue wear on the cutlass bearing. Loud groaning noises will be your first indication of the shaft spinning in a dry bearing for very long.

Kristof wrote: KENO wrote: It's not really normal, but if you can easily stop the shaft with your 2 X4, I'd leave it alone, put it in the water and see how it acts, then decide if you need to do something about it. When on the trailer, I can stop the prop with two fingers... When in the water, I can stop the shaft with three fingers... Mine has done so since I have the boat and also did so with the previous owner. and this without any issues. I even use the dirty neutral when I want to load her on the trailer at the ramp very, very, very, very, very slowly

There's something inherently wrong with having fingers and a moving prop or prop shaft in the same location

My '89 has an intermittent dirty neutral also. If I feel it turning I can give the throttle a little blip and it usually stops. It was worse when I first bought it but it also needed a dampener plate. After replacing the plate it seemed to get better but hard to tell since I hadn't run it very much.

JoeinNY wrote: While the typical dirty neutral is in due to internal issues, either minor or less so – this presumes that you have your control cables correctly adjusted.

desertskier wrote: My '89 has an intermittent dirty neutral also. If I feel it turning I can give the throttle a little blip and it usually stops. .

Sean,
That "blip" may be repositioning the trans shift lever. Do check your cable adjustments.