1972 55hp Johnson shear's pins like crazy

[gilbertmilone]

Hi I have an old johnson outboard on my old columbian boat. My uncle gave me the boat last year and I had it running last season after a lot of work. The problem I would like to solve before hitting the water this season is with the prop. Everytime I go out I shear a pin. Sometimes it happens when I shift from forward to reverse, other times when I open up the throttle. The lower unit shaft seems to have some wear in the hole which the pin goes into. I think when the shaft turns, since there is play it snaps when it catches up to the pin.. Is there a way I can fix this? By the way I'm using brass shear pins, should I switch to stainless?<br />Thanks,<br />Gil<br />-getting sick of jumping overboard to change the pin every trip.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1972 55hp Johnson shear's pins like crazy

Stainless will help. Perhaps you can switch to a larger pin.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1972 55hp Johnson shear's pins like crazy

Lets start with the model number of the motor you have. Johnson had a 65 hp in 1972 that did not have a shear pin. There was a 50 hp but it didnt use a pin either.<br /><br />Let us know!

 

[gilbertmilone]

Re: 1972 55hp Johnson shear's pins like crazy

ok I'm an idiot and I was going from memory of last season. It's a 40hp 50th Anniversary Johnson model 40EL 72E. Should I look into a new lower unit shaft? Is there supposed to be play in a shear pin? I can post a picture of what the shaft looks like if anyone wants to see.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Gil