1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

[Mad Adder]

After a few months of work, I think the MFG Gypsy is ready to go. I had to replace the lower unit because the gears were broke in it. I bought a nice used one and it went in with ease. I filled it with Type C and when I turned the prop, the shaft turned easy. It installed pretty easy as well.
The question is, when everything is shut off, should the prop just turn easy? Right now, it will turn about a corner turn before it comes to a stop. It can then be turned back the same amount. Should it spin easily or does it sound like all is well? I plan to put it in the water Saturday.

Thanks

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

Depends on the gear selected.

In Neutral it should spin freely. A good flip with a finger should get at least a revolution.

In F gear, in one direction to move it you have to turn the crankshaft...i.e. it is locked to the engine. In the other direction it ratchets and makes a clicking noise with the shaft and prop moving back and forth slightly....this is the over run clutch functioning...used when slowing down and cut the engine before the prop has had time to slow down to match it.

In R gear, you turn the prop slowly while moving the shifter control lever with the engine off as you have to line up the cogs and slots (in the lower unit) before the shifter will go all the way...if you don't rotate the prop you can damage your control linkage if the engine is off.

Now with that said, make a test and come back with the results.

Mark

 

[Mad Adder]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

I just read this...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=417573

so, I am not going to worry about it. It goes forward and reverse which is better than broke....which is what I got when I bought it. I am going to start reading the manual and trouble shooting on it.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

Depends on the motor. You say it is a 1971, but you never said the hp. If it has a hydro-electric gearcase the prop will default to forward gear when not running.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

Depends on the motor. You say it is a 1971, but you never said the hp. If it has a hydro-electric gearcase the prop will default to forward gear when not running.

Yessssssss. So sorry for the disinformation. They moved this thread and I couldn't follow it but I found it. I was not talking about an electric shifted LU I was talking about a standard mechanical shifter. I had a 1972 125 Johnson with the electric shift. I forgot about that and agree with jimmbo. So defaulting to F when off, you would have to turn the key on in N to get the electric clutch to move the shift shuttle to N. Then you could free spin it....as I recall. The reason for the default to F was that if you lost power you could still motor yourself home.

Mark

 

[Mad Adder]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

Oh, I see now. It is a 1971 50hp Johnson and I think it is Electronic.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

Oh, I see now. It is a 1971 50hp Johnson and I think it is Electronic.

Well, don't leave us hanging trying to help you............is it OK or not?

Mark

 

[Mad Adder]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

I am going to try to put it on the water in the morning. I will know for sure after that and I will let you all know.

Running it will let me know if all is FINALLY well.

 

[Mad Adder]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

Just got back from Dunn Pond. Yea, that quick. :redface: The motor fired right up at home, fired up on the trailer in the water.... and then did not want to start after being unhooked. We messed with it for 5-10 minutes and finally got it running again.

The prop seemed to just sit there in the water in Neutral. I put it in reverse and it backed up. If I put the engine down into run, it stalled. I put it up to start and fired it back up. I turned it around and put it in forward and got going. I slowly rolled it up to full throttle and within 5 minutes or less the temp buzzer in the control box started going off. I swung the boat around and headed for shore. I shut it off and grabbed my oar to start paddling. I was only about a town block or two from shore.

Putting it back onto the trailer....the front strap on the winch broke:facepalm:. Luckily, I had rachet straps to keep it on the trailer.


I am starting to hate being a boat owner. I have had nothing but problems with this thing.

 

[Mad Adder]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE:

I pulled the lower unit slowly and saw that I missed the water pump with the water tube. :facepalm: I put it all back togather and ran it on the muffs. Water is getting to the head and cooling it. I found warm water coming out of the lower body, the block stayed cool and the buzzer did not come on. I ran it about ten plus minutes at idle and in gear.
Going to find a new strap for the winch and then off to the water.......again.:redface:

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1971 Johnson doesn't free-spin. Should it?

So, looks like your hydroelectric shifter is shifting as it should. Sorry about the misfortune. On purchasing new to you, used equipment you have to expect these kinds of things. The right thing you did was to have a paddle on board. Wise move, as you found out.

You never know the history of a boat, nor the habits of the previous owner. Sometimes they leave signs by how the equipment looks/runs but not always.

Don't be too critical so soon. Give yourself time to work the bugs out.

The world of boating is fantastic and few things in life can compare.....I've only been doing it for 60+ years.

Mark