'55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

YAY!!!! Got my gem started today... dialed her in.... purring like a kitten.... then it hit me! I don't have neutral!!! Damn, I've got good reverse, when I shift it jumps into reverse. But when I go to neutral, it just goes right into forward. Sometimes, I can get it to slide into neutral, but within about 10 seconds it ''''slides'''' into forward, it doesn't jump into forward, it ''''slides'''' into forward. So now I figure I will check out the shift rod connection first. If it looks good, then I'll pull the lower unit. If that looks good then I'll pull the powerhead and check where the shift handle connects to the shift rod. Won't be able to get to it 'till probably Wednesday tho'... will let ya all know how it goes... so disappointed...

Bob

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

I'm glad it's running. Now we just got to get it going. Been there done that. Sounds like you're on the right track. Hopefully, it's just the shift rod connector, or something simple.

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

YAAAAAAY! Even tho' it was 106 outside today I worked on my gem and got her to shift into F,N,R no problem. Ended up adjusting the upper shift rod just a bit, putting on a new shift rod connector, and also opened up the Lower Unit. Cleaned the L/U, checked all gears, clutch dog, cradle, seals, and operating condition. Testing her by hand I had neutral, so I threw her in the barrel and Bam! Started up again on the 2nd crank and yes folks, everytime I shifted into Neutral, I had it. May take it out on the lake tomorrow to fine tune it and see how she pushes the boat, or may wait a little for the temp's to go down a bit.

Thanks for all the help!

Bob

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Let us know how it goes.....Fingers crossed!

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

UPDATE: Hit the lake yesterday... AND it didn't go great! Motor did start right up on 2nd crank. Before we left the ramp, I went thru all F,N,R and all was well, engine was running smoothly... That's where it all ended. As we got out on the water, the motor started physically jumping, like it was hitting logs. It was a steady rythm jump no matter what speed in forward, can't remember if it was also in neutral. Not sure what the jumping was tho'. So, as we fished, motor started right up on 1st crank every time we moved to a new spot! Awesome, loved it. But then it happened... started up motor, shifted into Forward and went backward... yepper... backward... I had no Forward, no Neutral. Figure I hafta check the shift rod connector and if that's not it, then pull the Powerhead and check up top. Damn, had to get back to the ramp in Reverse, what fun. Then, as I'm waiting to load onto the trailer, I have a pool of gas growing and growing on the surface of the water... how much more could I take I asked. Got home and looked at my rebuilt carb, looks like so gas leaked from lower needle and the glass bowl filter but not sure if enuff was leaking to cause such a big pool on the water.... Sooooo, guess I'll be working on the motor some more over the next few days or so... hope I get it right this time... it's been a long go at it!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Hello again Bassin'. The symptom of "hitting logs" is the classic description of a worn clutch dog. It's fairly common, especially on 50+ year old motors. They're easy enough to replace, but it will require taking the gearcase apart, and the part itself can be a little pricey (+$100) :/ You can try marineengine.com for a new part, or check online at sites like ebay, aomci.org and here in the forums. Another trick, is to take the dog and flip it around so that the other face is in use. You may slip in REV, but if you don't use it much, it may be worth the trade off. Do a search here in the forums for "worn clutch dog" and you'll find tons of threads with pics. You should be able to use a dog from any 10 hp of similar vintage, if I 'm not mistaken.

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

kfa4303: appreciate the quick reply! Will check out the clutch dog again.... checked it last week when working on the shift rod and it did look good, but will relook. Thanks again!
Bob

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Well, worked on my gem today, finally.... discovered I had installed the shift rod connector backwards (yep backwards), so it really wasn't connecting upper and lower shift rods. Hmmmm, did I feel dumb! Then I took out the carb, and cleaned it up, paying special attention to the filter bowl and high speed needle areas. Threw it in my test drum and viola, once again, I got a running motor!!!! Tuned her in and ran her for about an hour, shifting thru all gears quite a bit without a problem. Then let her set, like she had at the lake, and once again, viola, no gas leaks.... Hmmmm, hope to hit the lake tomorrow morning and see, once again, how things go......

Bob

 

[bassin'frog]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Finally got out on the lake yesterday and all went well with my little gem!!! Ran nice and smooth, all gears worked great, and no gas leak... Thanks to all for your help!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '55 Johnson QD-16 Ignition Woes... Help Please

Great news! Happy boating! Vroom-vroom........