67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

[Dandafireman]

I recently acquired a 1967 Johnson 80 HP Electromatic electric shift. It goes into neutral fine and in reverse. However it will not shift into forward. I used a test light and found power going to both forward and reverse wires when I put them in respective gears. Any suggestions?

 

[olson071]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

Dandafireman<br /> According to the service manual for my 71 Johnson 85hp with electric shift. The top selenoid is the neutral the bottom selenoid is reverse. In neutral the top selenoid is activated, in reverse both selenoids are activated and in forward neither selenoid is activated. You should show an open on the control circuit in forward gear. Hope this helps.<br />Gene

 

[snapperbait]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

Try changing the gear lube...make sure to use omc lube for electric shift...If thats a no go then its probably the solenoid in the gearcase.. Those old electric shift lower units are cantankerous contraptions that dont like moisture in the gear lube...P.s. ditch the test light and get a meter..

 

[Frank Martin]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

check risistance of each wire going into lower unit it should be about the same if one has a near infinate risistance reading the wire is probably broke if there about the same the foreword spring is probably broke

 

[Lugnut36]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

I believe 5 to 7 ohms on each solenoid remember you connect the meter from one of the shift wires to a good ground, not to each other ( otherwise it would appear to be an open circuit )<br /><br />Just disconnect both shift wires if you can and then check to see if its in forward gear,

 

[j.rieck]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

DANDAFIREMAN

 

[j.rieck]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

DANDAFIREMAN<br /><br />Dude I just had the same problem on my 1970 40 h.p. electromatic. I don't know what genius would engineer a motor with the shift wires running to the lower unit via the exhaust pipe. The wires were melted, down inside the exhaust near the lower unit. You can probably purchase a new wire if this is the problem. (I just made my own)<br />I imagine after 30 years of use the wires just wore out.

 

[BillP]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

My 1965 75v4 Johnson did the same thing. I even had to go 3 miles back to the ramp in reverse. The problem was first seen as jumping in and out of gear. Reverse and neutral both worked fine but it finally wouldn't engage forward.<br /><br />I traced the problem to the stainless steel "knife" type switch connectors in the lower leg. One wire for forward and one for reverse. It is where the lower gear case wires connect to the upper wires. The wires are plastic coated stainless steel. I clipped them clean and put new and different connectors on, then sealed both with high temp silicone. It worked thereafter without problems.

 

[Dandafireman]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

First of all thanks for all the responses....I am currently in the process of changing the gear lube. Using an ohmmeter, the reverse is showing 8 ohms (which is normal) and the forward is reading infinite. So am I to assume that after changing the gear lube and running it for a bit that if it still doesnt go into forward gear, the forward coil and solenoid is bad?

 

[Dandafireman]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

***UPDATE**** I CHANGED THE LOWER UNIT OIL, RAN IT IN WATER BARREL FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. AGAIN WENT INTO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL FINE, BUT NO FORWARD. ALSO, AFTER TAKING ENGINE OUT OF BARREL THERE WAS MILKY FLUID COMING OUT OF SEEP HOLES AT TOP OF CAVITATION PLATE. IS THIS NORMAL?

 

[Walker]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

Try disconnecting bothe wires at the blade connectors. With no power to either solinoid it should go into foreward.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

I'm concerned about the milky fluid! NOT NORMAL!!Was the original gear lube milky?? Any metal particles?? When you changed the lube did you make sure the o-rings were in place on the drain and oil level screws?

 

[Dandafireman]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

**Update** changed fluid, ran in water barrel. Then drained fluid. Fluid came out normal color. However after testing the wires again, the reverse is testing at 8 ohms (normal) and the forward is testing infinite. From what I can tell and from what I have been told, it appears I will need to replace the forward coil and electromagnet. Any suggestions on where to acuire one?

 

[Dandafireman]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

In reference to the milky color in the fluid. After first running it in the water when I discovered the shift problem, and running tests on the wires, I had disassembled the lower unit (per the repair manual), and the fluid was milky then (mixed with water). I inspected the wire leads into the housing which appeared to be normal, reassembled the unit per specs, regasketed the appropriate places including the water pump housing. Now I have normal fluid which tells me the seals or gaskets were in need of replacing anyways. Now I just have to get it into forward LOL

 

[snapperbait]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

If you would post your location "city" someone might be able to point ya in the right direction.<br /> I know they can be a little difficult to find.

 

[Dandafireman]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

ALSO, just as a thought, according to the manual, the forward and reverse coils and electromagnets are identical and interchangeable. And being its better to have forward and neutral versus reverse and neutral, if I were to switch them, I would have forward and no reverse thus giving me use in the water (being cautious of course). Can this actually work?

 

[snapperbait]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

I dont rember and dont have a manual in front of me but why would ya want to tear it apart twice.. Do it right the first time.

 

[Walker]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

Let me repeat what has already been brought to your attention but apparantly over looked. There is no foreward solenoid on that lower unit. There are 2 solenoids and two wires going to the lower unit. When you power up one wire you get neutral. Power up both wires and you get reverse. No power to either wire is foreward. That lower unit should be in foreward when the key is turned off.

 

[Dandafireman]

Re: 67 Johnson 80HP Electromatic..will go in reverse but not forward

Well everyone, after disassembling the lower unit and removing the gears, here was my discovery. Pulled out the reverse gear first with the electromagnet, both in great shape, then pulled out the forward gear and noticed where the forward electromagnet attached to the gear there were red fragments of the forward electromagnet and that magnet was basically tore up on the inside exposing the inner wire, thus I found the problem. I imagine after years of use these go bad, and Im sure the water that was mixed with the oil had alot to do with it. As far as the seepage of water and oil mix in the seepage hole in the cavitation plate, that was caused by oil getting by a gasket and mixing with water in the water pump, so that problem will be corrected when I reassemble it. Snapperbait, thanks for all your quick responses and help! I'm in Virginia now and will be a fellow Floridian (Ft Myers) come December. So until then, tight lines and calm seas to all!!