Johnson 1961 - 10hp - QD22 - Won’t Shift into Gear

[ScottyOMC]

Hello,
I’m a outboard newbie so just looking for a trouble shooting starting point/advice before diving into the deconstruction.
Had my 1961 Johnson 10hp out on the lake today. Was cruising along fine. Stopped to cast along a shoreline (of course it was the furthest shoreline from the cottage so made for quite a paddle), then when I started it back up it wouldn’t shift into forward or reverse, it’s just stuck in neutral.

Thoughts on potential problems/solutions?
Thank you!

 

[kbait]

Pull the prop and check drive pin (shear pin). If it’s in 3 pieces, there’s the problem.

 

[oldboat1]

not to insult you, but was the motor running when you attempted to shift? And did you or someone do some lower unit work recently (like water pump work).

If the gearshift moved, but no gear change, it's likely the drive pin like kbait suggests.

 

[F_R]

If not the drive pin, remove the oval plate from the side of the midsection and look in there to see if the shift rod id moving up and down. And see if both bolts are in the brass connector.

 

[ScottyOMC]

The culprit. Thank you!
The motor isn’t idling great, so maybe I was shifting with the RPMs too high. That’s a problem to work on tomorrow.

 

[F_R]

That is the wrong drive pin. Should be stainless steel (part number 307949). But brass is ok if you like to change shear pins on the water.

 

[ScottyOMC]

Interesting, I just got the motor a week or two ago, so this is what was in it. There was also a few extra pins taped inside the motor and they are all brass as well, apparently they ran isn’t this frequently. I’ll look into getting a stainless steel pin.

 

[racerone]

There are those people who would rather change a 59 cent pin instead of a prop that my be a bit pricy.----But yes a steel drive pin is what it uses.----Why not trouble shoot to get that motor idling as designed !

 

[ScottyOMC]

There are those people who would rather change a 59 cent pin instead of a prop that my be a bit pricy.----But yes a steel drive pin is what it uses.----Why not trouble shoot to get that motor idling as designed !

Waiting on a carburetor kit to be delivered. Right now the slow speed needle doesn’t seem like it’s sitting right. Adjusting the high speed and low speed richness adjustments don’t seem to do anything right now.