1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

[doug88008]

Hi everyone,<br /><br />I am new around here. This is my first post. Thanks for all the good advice already posted on this board. <br /><br />My brother reports that our 1972 70-HP Johnson up in Canada is stuck in reverse. I gather from other posts on this board that the hydro-electric shift would go into forward if the motor lost connection with the shifter. <br /><br />Unfortunately neither of us are near the motor's location at this point, but we are both headed up there in 10 days and a lot of relatives will be disappointed if we don't get it running.<br /><br />Can anyone suggest a sequence for finding the problem?<br /><br />Also any suggestions on where to find parts for old Johnson motors?<br /><br />Could the wrong oil cause this problem?<br /><br />Doug

 

[alden135]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

Joe Reeves has posted the troubleshooting sequence several times. Do a search for his essay, print it and take it with. I'm pretty sure that the '71 and '72 electric shifts don't fail in forward, but I'm no expert. I can say for certain that you must use OMC type "c" oil for it to shift properly.

 

[papasage]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

it will defolt to foward . the 2 wires going to foot will activate nutral and reverse . it will need power to put in nutral and reverse frome ststor. are youn sure it is a 1972 70 hp post the modle to be sure . if it has 1 cable from throddle box it is eletric . if 2 cables it is standard . i have a shop manul and dont think it showes a 70 . in 1972 . i covers all 1972 motors

 

[alden135]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

Hey Papa, I thought that I had read somewhere that the later ones didn't due to some safety issue with starting in gear. I will bow to your greater knowledge on that.

 

[tr918]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

Easiest way to tell what you have....If you have the push buttons(fwd,nuetral,rev) on the shifter it is an electric shift. If there are no buttons that are labeled fwd,nuetral,rev then it is a cable shift. <br /><br />Post your model so that these guys can better help you. <br /><br />I have a 1972 65hp Evinrude and I am fairly certain that Evinrude/Johnson did not make a 70hp in 1972(only 65hp and next higher was 85hp). I thought they started making 70hp's in 1974. Keep in mind that I am fairly sure that this is the case. I am not 100% positive on this. The gurus in here can better confirm or deny this for you.<br />Good luck.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

If it is a 70hp, then it does NOT have electric shift. The first 70s came out in 1974 and had a hydromechanical shift unit, followed by a straight mechanical shift unit in 1977.<br /><br />PLEASE post your model number so that we know what we're dealing with here....<br /><br />- Scott

 

[doug88008]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

My mistake, I apologize--it's a 65 HP 1972 Johnson stuck in reverse. <br /><br />(Sorry to say that I can't post the model number as the boat is near Blind River, Ontario and my brother is in Toronto (350 miles away). I am in Los Angeles.)<br /><br />Any ideas on the sequence of things to check to fix it?

 

[papasage]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

you may have a stuck cylinoid . there is 2 of them one is for nutral and the other is for reverse . and foward stayes in till it cranks or spinns fast enough to activate nutral . e mail me and i will send you mor info . papasage10@yahoo.com

 

[Walker]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

And there may or may not be push buttons. Johnson made a single lever electric switch control box that had the switches inside and the lever threw the switches.

 

[papasage]

Re: 1972 70 HP Johnson stuck in reverse

yep had one on a 115 hp a few years ago