1971 Johnson 60 - Won't engage

setlack55

Cadet
Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
12
I have my motor all tuned up and it now idles like a dream and starts with no problem. The problem is when I try to put it into forward or reverse gear. If I slowly push the throttle forward it will start to push the boat but if I give it too much throttle it will sputter and die out, kind of makes a "bog" sound. When I had it running with the ear muffs the drive gears engaged perfectly. What could be wrong?
 

rayodunne

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 21, 2006
Messages
224
Re: 1971 Johnson 60 - Won't engage

You need to do a Link & Sync as per you service manual. If you don't have a manual you should get one. Under normal conditions the timing is advanced as you throttle up the motor. As the timing is advanced the carbs open up also. This has to happen in the right sequence or it will stumble. Your carbs have an idle circuit which is unaffected by this so the motor will idle perfect.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: 1971 Johnson 60 - Won't engage

Related to the link & sync, if the timer base is sticky, the carburetors will open while the timer base has not moved. Opening the carburetors without advancing the spark at the same time will make it conk out.
 

setlack55

Cadet
Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
12
Re: 1971 Johnson 60 - Won't engage

Well I put her in the lake today, idled fine. Went to put it into gear and it engaged and worked okay, as soon as I pushed the throttle forward more it started to idle down and finally died out. Thinking the link and sync wasnt done quite correctly. Anybody have an idea on exactly how to do it?
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: 1971 Johnson 60 - Won't engage

It is sort of involved, you really need a manual if you are going to work on this, OEM not Seloc, Clymers, and nothing on CD, they are pretty pointless.

It is a bit tricky because the timing , shift and throttle are all linked and if one is off even a little bit it will do what you are describing.

Check Ebay if money is an issue, I got mine for $30 there or you can get them here at iboats but eihter way they are worth the cost the first time you use it.
 
Top