1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

[james roach]

Control box and cables are OK but motor wont go into gear without a fight. What do I do?

 

[angus63]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Disconnect at engine and manually shift. If this is free, your cable or control may need attention.

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

I unhooked the shift cable at the engine and manually put it into gear, it is hard to get into gear even manually. It seems it should be much easier to get into gear than it is. Shift box and cable work fine when unhooked from motor. Is their a grease fitting or something that services this area. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Surely someone has had this experience. Any suggestions?

 

[ob]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

The shift arm runs through bushings that may be devoid of lubricant.Try disconnecting the shift rod and see if the shift arm is hard to move.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

If the motor is not running you should be turning the prop sahft as you try to shift.<br /><br />Does it shift OK with the motor running?

 

[ob]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Good insight Dhadley,I hadn't considered that possibility.

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

It does not shift great while running either. Motor is difficult to get in gear and dies when I put it into reverse. It does fine when you put it into forward. It seems like it should be much more smooth.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

OK. Heres a possibility -- salt builds up behind the lower motor mounts and pushes the mid section back. The shift shaft hole no longer lines up and the shaft is in a bind. <br /><br />When you drop the lower unit you should be able to shift the unit fairly easy by hand (while turning the prop shaft). If its still hard to shift we have other issues. The shift shaft passage should be open and straight.<br /><br />The thing that bothers me is that you say it dies when you put it in reverse. That could be a result of the shift interrupter hanging up or a combination of other things.<br /><br />Lets look at the shift shaft binding issue first.<br /><br />Unless the motor has always been in fresh water only.

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Now we are getting somewhere. It is an exclusive saltwater motor. I'm thinking interrupter switch also for the other (it does not do it when I out it in forward). I'll drop the lower unit and see how it shifts. Thanks for the excellent information.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Keep us informed.<br /><br />If it is the mounts, dont get frustrated trying to get them out. Let us know -- there's a trick to it.<br /><br />Dont cuss -- call us!

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Thanks, I will unhook the shifter this weekend and drop the lower unit and see how it shifts. I will post results.

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Heres the latest. The motor now shifts fine while the motor is running. It wont shift while not running. The motor still dies when you put it into reverse. It does not die when you out it into forward.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

OK. Its not supposed to shift easily while not running unless you spin the propshaft.<br /><br />What rpm does it idle at in forward? Did you unhook the interrupter and try it?

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

It idles @ approximately 8-900 rpm in forward and 10-1100in Neutral. I have varied the idle in an effort to fix this problem but have been unable to. The motor shows no signs of carb trouble. What is the best way to temporarily unhook the interruptor switch? Would it hurt it to run without it hooked up? Thanks in advance.

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Do you just cut the wire to unhook the switch or bypass the switch? Does it hurt the motor to do this? Thanks in advance.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

You can unplug the switch to test. The key will then not shut off 3 cylinders so you may have to flood it to kill it.<br /><br />Are you setting the idle in the water or out? Your rpms look OK if that is in the water. <br /><br />The purpose of the switch is to make it easier to shift out of gear.

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

The idle RPM's is in the water. I can hear the interrupter kick in when you go from reverse to neutral but I cant here it when you go from forward to neutral. The motor acts as if it is starving for fuel when you put it into reverse but does not do it when you put it in forawrd. ( out of 10 times you put it into reverse it will slowly die. The 10th time it might act normal.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Dies off slowly, huh? Hummmm.....I would think that if the interupter is doing it by being out of adjustment it would die like you shut it off.<br /><br />Well, disconnect it and let us know what happens. <br /><br />What kind of a boat is it on? Is it something like a bass boat where the motor sits pretty deep in the water at rest?

 

[james roach]

Re: 1987 200 HP Johnson Wont shift into gear

Just thought I would let everyone know the problem turned out to be the starboard powerpack. This is the one that fuels the SI switch. I changed that pack for another reason and the motor does not cut out anymore when you put the motor in gear. The pack was an original so it has lived it's life. I also replaced the shifting cables. We learn from experiences.