Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

[dicktaber]

I thank you for the wealth of knowledge available here. I did a search for "Hydro-Electric shift" and read a number of threads, copied some of the better posts into a document and am using it to troubleshoot my friend's 1972 Johnson 50HP.

Backing up:
--It has been sitting over a year.
--He has a Seloc manual and we used it to change the water pump impeller yesterday.
--Backed it into the water (still on the trailer) and fired it up, and it's stuck in "Forward". Ran it at/slightly above idle for 10-15 min, tried shifting both directions. No change.
--Brought it home and did some more reading.

--This morning, checked voltage at green wire (12V in neutral, 12V in reverse) and at blue wire (12V in reverse). So far, so good.
--Then he moved the power lever with me listening to the L/U. Going from N > F "click". Going from N > R, "click". Solenoids appear to be actuating.
--Checked correct, clean fluid at proper level. Check.

Is there anything in the hydraulic portion that I can check? I believe that the pump turns whenever the crankshaft is turning, so it should be providing pressure. If the solenoids are energizing correctly, how is it that the fluid is not being ported to the correct places? Is there something "stuck"? Maybe a few sharp raps to the side of the L/U with a plastic mallet?

I'm looking through the manual (yet again) but short of thorough disassembly, I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Best, Rich

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

i just went thru my OEM manual for my 71 50hp, which is the same. if some has been into the lower and the rods on the solenoid are not line up just right, it won't shift. they won't move the valves for the oil pump to move the oil to move the clutch dog. you really need an OEM manual to mess with it.
outboardbooks.com

 

[F_R]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

Dicktaber, did you mess with the solenoids when you did the water pump job? Sounds like if you did, you missed the valve levers when you put them back in. Beating on it won't help.

 

[dicktaber]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

Thank you for the replies.

No, I did not touch anything but the water pump housing, impeller, and related bolts. Very careful with wiring.

As I say, it has sat for a while, but if:
--the solenoids actuate, and
--the pump pumps
what else can be going on?

Note that I cannot figure out how to verify the latter, but if the drive (vertical) shaft is turning, and the water pump is turning, isn't it almost a given that the oil pump is turning?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

you would think so. did it shift before the water pump?

 

[dicktaber]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

Yes, it worked just fine, but after sitting that long, we figured it deserved a fresh impeller before trying to revive it. The old one was definitely due (one vane broken off, several others cracked).

Thank you for the replies; I really appreciate it.

 

[F_R]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

Yep, if the shaft is turning, the oil pump is turning. When you were checking the voltages on the green and blue wires, was that at the motor? And with the wires connected? Did you check the resistance of the solenoids? If you are absolutly sure the electrical checks out and that it is full of the right oil, then sorry to say it must have a problem in the gearcase. But I still don't think so. I think you are overlooking something or testing something incorrectly in the electrical.

 

[dicktaber]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

--When you were checking the voltages on the green and blue wires, was that at the motor?

Yes, where they disconnect at the power head (where I disconnected the to drop the L/U)

--And with the wires connected?

Yes, did it once with the wires connected and once with them disconnected--same result.

--did you check the resistance of the solenoids?

No, noticed that check a bit late. Will try it tomorrow. Does the fact that they "click" mean anything?

--If you are absolutly sure the electrical checks out and that it is full of the right oil, then sorry to say it must have a problem in the gearcase. But I still don't think so. I think you are overlooking something or testing something incorrectly in the electrical.

I'm hoping that I have overlooked something. I'll check the solenoids and report back.

Thanks for all your help and enjoy our Independence Day.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

Simply hot wire from the battery +, or hot terminal , to the green wire from the gearcase. Engine should shift to neautral. Hot wire to both gearcase wire's, engine should shift to reverce. If not, trouble is in gearcase

 

[sprayman]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

I thank you for the wealth of knowledge available here. I did a search for "Hydro-Electric shift" and read a number of threads, copied some of the better posts into a document and am using it to troubleshoot my friend's 1972 Johnson 50HP.

Backing up:
--It has been sitting over a year.
--He has a Seloc manual and we used it to change the water pump impeller yesterday.
--Backed it into the water (still on the trailer) and fired it up, and it's stuck in "Forward". Ran it at/slightly above idle for 10-15 min, tried shifting both directions. No change.
--Brought it home and did some more reading.

--This morning, checked voltage at green wire (12V in neutral, 12V in reverse) and at blue wire (12V in reverse). So far, so good.
--Then he moved the power lever with me listening to the L/U. Going from N > F "click". Going from N > R, "click". Solenoids appear to be actuating.
--Checked correct, clean fluid at proper level. Check.

Is there anything in the hydraulic portion that I can check? I believe that the pump turns whenever the crankshaft is turning, so it should be providing pressure. If the solenoids are energizing correctly, how is it that the fluid is not being ported to the correct places? Is there something "stuck"? Maybe a few sharp raps to the side of the L/U with a plastic mallet?

I'm looking through the manual (yet again) but short of thorough disassembly, I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Best, Rich

Check the lower unit to see if it is full .

 

[dicktaber]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

Did that, way back in post #1.

--Checked correct, clean fluid at proper level. Check.

 

[spazio10]

Re: Yet another Hydro-Electric shift question

heya i am having the same problem only mine is because we removed the hydro electric shift solonoids and actuator rod and cannot seem to get the nipple valve back into its hole while attached to the actuator rod. if all the wiring checks out maybe it is as simple as a broken clip from the actuator rod to the metal nipple valve. cause the solinoids would still work and click, they just wouldn't be moving anything.

you say you didn't remove it right? cause if you did then you may be having the same problem as me and cannot get it seated right