Johnson doesn`t want to go in reverse

[THEFERMANATOR]

Like above posters have stated, could simply be the cable adjustment. If somebody has recently had the lower unit off though, and that is when it started doing it. Then most likely they got the shift rod height off. The shift rod has to be adjusted within an 1/8" or else it won't go into gear fully. Take the cable loose and shift it by hand and se if it feels like it goes all the way in or not. If when you manually engage it into gear it feels spongy when you put it in, then most likely the height is off on the shift rod. It should have a solid positive feel when it goes into gear.

[Skools Out]

as Ferm said but you can adjust the rod length without removing the lower unit. take out rod bolt (don't lose it) push rod down the lift the pivit part and turn carefully with needle nose.

[zoso]

I was hoping I could get some good advice here, and it seems I have.
I`ll give all those suggestions a try and post the results.
Thanks guys!!

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by zoso

I was hoping I could get some good advice here, and it seems I have.
I`ll give all those suggestions a try and post the results.
Thanks guys!!

I not sure if you answered but does it fell stiff when trying to shift from foward to reverse or reverse to forward?

[zoso]

Stillrunning,
I didnt notice any stiffness in the engagement of the lever, but then again i wasn`t looking for it either, next time I`ll pay more attention to it.
I know this hasn`t helped u much, so lets say it wasn`t stiff for conversation purposes.

[Stillrunning]

The reason I asked is I had this problem but on a 150 Johnson and I thought at first to ajust the shift cable but that did not work. Then I noticed it was kind of stiff when shifting so I thouht the cable was bad. I disconected the shift cable from the motor and it shift smooth so I then knew the cable was not the issue. What I ended up finding is that mine had two o-rings which sealed the shift rode where it enters the lower unit. They get a little corrosion around them and causes them to pinch tight around the shift rode affecting how it moves. Its an easy fix so if the other things do not work I'll give you more details about how to check and fix this problem. It does involve removing the lower unit but thats not very hard.

[steplift20]

cable thats the enemy

[zoso]

Stillrunning: "does it fell stiff when trying to shift from foward to reverse or reverse to forward?"
Its not lucy but not sticky either, ive manuvered other boots and this one doesnt seem to be any more stiff than those.


THEFERMANATOR: "If when you manually engage it into gear it feels spongy when you put it in, then most likely the height is off on the shift rod. It should have a solid positive feel when it goes into gear."
I can feel the mechanical motion of the pivot , but, it doesnt quite feel as engaged as foward does.


Skools Out: " take out rod bolt (don't lose it) push rod down the lift the pivit part and turn carefully with needle nose."
turn the rod shaft ? at the pivot plate under the carbs? do i need to pay attention to the curved part of the shaft ?


Before I adjusted the cable, while in the reverse position,the prop would turn easily with my hands(clicking like a rouellette wheel). after cable adjustment ,while in reverse position, it took noticably more pressure to turn the prop, had fewer clicking sounds when it slipped(now its a heavier gear slipping feel/sound and only when it slips).
Now, I want to try adjusting the shifter rod. But not sure where and how to do it.

[Stillrunning]

I'm not sure if yours has those two orings but that sounds alot like mine when I traced the proplem down to them. If you know how to remove the lower unit it not hard to check them.