1977 johnson 70 hp shifting issue

[mabonk84]

Ok I have been reading posts about if you can shift you boat into gear manually then its the lines. I can't shift into forward or reverse the linkage went limp on me and wont shift. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, I will be tinkering in the am and will post back in the afternoon with findings. This will be my first time working on the motor. Do I start in the motor or in the controls area???

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1977 johnson 70 hp shifting issue

explain in a little more detail. the control moves but does not shift? the lever on the motor moves but does not shift? with motor off, turn prop with your foot, while trying to move linkage.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1977 johnson 70 hp shifting issue

Welcome to iboats.

I would drain the lower first and see what is in the oil, if it is full of chips your search is over, if it is good clean oil than move to the control box.

Pull the hood off and watch the shift and throttle cables on the motor to confirm they are working, if so disconnect the shift cable and try to manually get it in gear, you may have to spin the prop with your foot and they only move so far, pushing harder or whacking them won't do anything.

There is a bolt under the carbs, confirm that hasn't come out, it attaches the shift linkage to the shift rod that actually goes into the lower.

If you can move the shifter on the motor back and forth without it going into gear that is bad, I have been into a couple lowers and you really need to know what you are doing to be able to actually fix anything and that is the absolute last option to crack the lower open.

Try this stuff and post results and we will go from there.

Good luck, I am on my 3rd lower so I feel your pain.

 

[mabonk84]

Re: 1977 johnson 70 hp shifting issue

the two cables are fine, but just below there is a linkage rod that controls the shifting that has gone limp. this use to engage into forward and reverse?ill try to figure out how to put pictures on later im going to mess with it right now ill let you know how it goes.

 

[mabonk84]

Re: 1977 johnson 70 hp shifting issue

Thanks for all of your help it definately was the bolt under the carbs that attaches the shift linkage to the shift rod that actually goes into the lower.

Now I just gotta run her to see if she is working properly...

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1977 johnson 70 hp shifting issue

Excellent, can't beat a freebie, well except things that fix themselves and that is pretty rare.