1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

[cvtech1]

I had my lower unit replaced and took it out for the first time this weekend. Went to launch from the dock, when I pulled the controls back in reverse to my surprise the boat shot forward. When I pushed forward I went backwards. What the heck is this? I can't get in touch with the shop yet so how difficult is this to correct? Please help. Thanks

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Wrong lower unit.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Wrong lower unit? So it can't be fixed just replaced?

 

[boobie]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Take it back to the dlr and have them put the correct lower unit on it for the YEAR mtr you have.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Report the problem to whoever installed that lower unit.

 

[V153]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Cool! I know a guy that accidentally plumbed his hydraulic steering so's when you turned right ya went left.

Took a lil gettin used to ...

 

[cvtech1]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Well you know I like the boats layout for fishing but tired of engine problems. I want to repower but it has a soft spot or two in the boat. Am I throwing good money down a bad well or what? Any opinions?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

You already paid to have the lower unit replaced and they installed the wrong one. It shouldn't cost you any more money to install the proper lower unit.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Yep. For a very few years (including 1977) OMC had a hydrostatic shift gearcase. And as you now know it shifts opposite of the standard mechanical shift gearcases. You obviously had a standard gearcase installed.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Was this an authorized shop or a shade tree ??

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

it has a soft spot or two in the boat.

Soft spots.... like in the deck (floor)?...... Wood rot?

 

[1985mariner20]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Where did you have your Lower unit done? I'm trying to find someone around houston to rebuild my '77 Johnson 175 lower unit and want to make sure I don't use the same guy. lol unless he was cheap and corrected issue for you right away..

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

metriccrescentwrench -- can a mechanical lower unit/gearcase replace a hydrostatic unit? And if so, wouldn't the control box have to be replaced as well? (actually, I'm thinking the required mechanical linkage at the powerhead is missing if it was a hydrostatic unit)

My overall thought is this: If a mechanical lower unit can be readily exchanged for an existing hydrostatic one, wouldn't that be a common solution for failing hydrostatic units? Thing is, I didn't think they could be interchanged -- not easily, anyway. Interesting.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

I'm thinking they installed a counter rotating lower unit.

 

[racerone]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

The control box shift moves the same way !----The hydro-mechanical shift ( AKA powershift II ) shifts to forward with a down motion of the shift rod.-----Need to look at changing intake manifold / linkages if you want to adapt one to the other.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

Steel, they didn't build a counter rotating gear case for a V-4.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

racerone -- Is the assumption that a a mechanical gearcase was switched with a hydrostatic one, that the shift controls are backwards as a result, BUT the shift controls can be changed to their original function by changing linkages? If this is right, it seems like cvtech1 is in good shape with a mechanical unit in place of a more trouble-prone(?) hydrostatic unit. All he needs is some additional linkage tweaking(?)

 

[racerone]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

The hydro-mechanical is very good and not trouble prone.---------It can be done to put the newer on on.---Sorry, I am not proficient at writing a manual to do this job.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 1977 Johnson 140 hp, Shift controls BACKWARDS!

maybe a couple of sentences from the chapter on changing the linkage? Fact is, suggestion is that cvtech got the wrong lower unit, has control issues, AND you suggest that might be corrected by a linkage adjustment? Go for it.

Glad to hear the hydro unit is a good one.