Hey she looks great!

9 times out of 10, its the clutch dog that is the issue.

You need to pull off the skeg to do this. It is not difficult though. Pull the skeg, lift the prop shaft assembly out, slide off the forward gear, then you can slide off the clutch dog, and slide on the new one. if in a pinch, you can flip the dog if you want, so that the damage is against the reverse gear. Since you are not usually going very fast in reverse, it sometimes works. Check the lugs on the forward gear though as well, to ensure it is not damaged, and in need of replacing.

There is also a way, to make an under cut on the lugs, to repair them. Im not a good enough machinist to do that though, so I can let someone else talk you through that if that is the way you want to go.

The other thing is, you will need to re seal the lower as well. Might be a good time to just get a re seal kit and do it all while it is apart.

Sounds like the clutch dog to me too.

Does it hold ok in gear when in reverse?

One thing to check is to make sure the shift rod is fully inserted in that coupler behind the oval cover on the leg.

Austin said:

awesome rig you have there Austin !! my favorite setup.
I too have never opened a lower unit before. For some reason, I have always
been intimidated by it and always took it to the mechanic for big bucks.
A friend/member here gave me an old 33hp that is almost identical to the RD-19s
to practice on and – wow – getting into a gear case is so simple !!!
only a few moving parts and the parts catalog gives you the diagram of how
to arrange it all to put it back. Marine Engine also has the parts diagram to go by.
If you think it has never been serviced before, it may need a few items replaced
such as bearings, seals and clutch dog. . . . . so, just drain the oil, put it on your work bench
or kitchen table and have at it !!!

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