63 johnson 18 hp lower unit question

[twocyclemania]

Today I picked up a 63 Johnson 18 ($60). It's all there; no corrosion but it needs coils (original clear pink coils and totally cracked). Does anyone have an idea on what's wrong with the shifting/lower unit. The prop rotates as if its in (forward) gear no matter where the shift lever is. Since the price was right I took a gamble that the shift linkage connector was not hooked up; seemed logical to me. Anyway, I got it home and the shift linkage is connected and moving up and down as it should. What am I looking at. I usually swap out lower units than play with them but I don't have one for this motor, they're pricey and I'm wondering what I'm looking at for a repair.

 

[jasper60103]

Today I picked up a 63 Johnson 18 ($60). It's all there; no corrosion but it needs coils (original clear pink coils and totally cracked). Does anyone have an idea on what's wrong with the shifting/lower unit. The prop rotates as if its in (forward) gear no matter where the shift lever is. Since the price was right I took a gamble that the shift linkage connector was not hooked up; seemed logical to me. Anyway, I got it home and the shift linkage is connected and moving up and down as it should. What am I looking at. I usually swap out lower units than play with them but I don't have one for this motor, they're pricey and I'm wondering what I'm looking at for a repair.

Well, a common mistake is the pivot pin (#18) is accidentally removed when attempting to change the lower unit oil. This causes the shifter lever (#33) to fall out of place. Sometimes you get lucky and get the pin and lever back in place. Often not though, and requires to open up the gear case to fix.

In any case, you got a good deal on the motor. Good luck.

http://www.*****************/parts/jo...Gearcase+Group

 

[tomhath]

There isn't much inside the gear case on those motors, don't be afraid to open it up if it isn't just the pivot pin. It probably needs new seals anyway.

 

[boobie]

I'll go along with the pivot pin being out of place.

 

[F_R]

That would be my first thought also. My second thought is total disaster inside the case. Worn out shifter cradle from running with no oil or running with water in it (instead of oil) for a long time. Hey, you took a gamble, right?

 

[twocyclemania]

I was hoping to get off easy but no luck. I unscrewed the pivot pin and played around for a while with a dental exam tool and managed to align what is probably the shift lever. I'm assuming that's what it is since it has the size hole for pivot pin to go through. Anyway, this did not do the trick. Guess I'll have to open the lower unit. We'll see what happens then. Thanks everyone for the input and advice. I'll get back to you when I tangle with this motor.

 

[twocyclemania]

Update! I opened the drain hole and not much came out. I put some lower unit oil and sprayed some penetrating oil (knock-er-loose) in. Tilted it and turned it and turned it over by hand (since it doesn't run). It decided to shift a few times and now I have no gears - just neutral. Got a feeling the lower unit is a disaster. (I have other problems if you've been reading regarding the ignition). This may be a parts motor.

 

[HighTrim]

I would just pull off the skeg and see what is going on. May just be an easy fix!

 

[geoffwga1]

Don't despair yet,you haven't opened it up yet so you don't know If the oil you drained actually was oil and was not all white'n 'orrible there is hope.maybe a leg broken on the shifter fork,I would take look before throwing in the towel..
geoffwga1

 

[restornator]

Remove the access plate on the exhaust housing, and see if the shift linkage is 1) assembled with both upper and lower rods connected and 2) if the linkage moves up and down when you shift through the gears.