Messed up big time- Dead boat

[speters]

After drifting for several hours, I forgot to lower the out drive unit before starting the engine. Ran the engine for a few minutes with the trim all the way up before realizing it was up. Lowered the drive, shifted into forward and started on my way. I accidentally pulled the safety lanyard that killed the engine, but reinstalled it before putting the drive in neutral, while the boat was still going a few MPH. The engine sputtered back to life, but was making strange noises like gears where grinding. It stalled out and when I tried to restart, the engine seemed locked up. After several attempts the starter is now just screaming like the teeth are all gone and it is not engaging the anything, just spinning at high rpm. My suspicion is that the gimble bearing and/or the universal has ceased up. What can I do by myself to verify?

Thanks
Steve

[speters]

Update.....

It ended up being a simple case of hydrolock. Pulled plugs cranked over engine until dry and she fired up and appears to be running like before. Anybody have any experience changing out the flappers? On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is it?

[cableguygreg]

They aren't that difficult. Just loosen the clamps and remove the 4 bolts from each of the risers. Lift the risers up and you should have access to them. You might need to put a little dish soap on the boots to get them back on the Y pipe. Glad to hear you were able to get the thing refired.

[Herm]

Your flappers maynot be bad. My motor hydro locked with just 20 hours on it from pulling the cord. It doesnt take much for it to happen