'86 Johnson 150 runs but no forward/reverse

K

Kymatlo

Cadet
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
17
'86 Johnson 150HP VRO V6 outboard been running great with no problems in over a year.

So I decided to break it. . .
Running about 46MPH at night on a familar lake and spotted a buoy that marks a submerged island I've seen a thousand times. Felt like I was too close to the buoy, and split-second threw it from full-out to nuetral (I thought).

I missed neutral and went into reverse. The outboard/throttle made a god-aweful noise for about 1-2 seconds and I killed the ignition.

Started right back up, no thrust forward of reverse.

Wondering if I should tear the lower unit open (major pain, but I did replace the water pump 3 years ago and so I'm vaguely familiar), or is there a possiblity that something else gave out during the sudden slam into reverse? If it's in the lower unit, what's a likely culprit?

I've got a Climer guide with some diagrams in it and a parts store right up the street. Just hope there's room on the credit card. . .
 
S

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: '86 Johnson 150 runs but no forward/reverse

First check the shift linkage. Disconnect it shift cable at the engine and try to shift manually. See if you can get it into gear.

My guess though is that you have done some major damage to the gears. If so you will need to pull the lower unit and get into the gearcase or hunt around for a like engine with a good lower unit and a blown powerhead. The Clymer manual and your local parts store won't be of much help I think. Get teh OMC shop manual. Oh and plan for lots of room on the credit card.

Hopefully it will be just a linkage issue but the god-aweful noise following slamming it into reverse at WOT points to pain in the pocket book.
 
K

Kymatlo

Cadet
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
17
Re: '86 Johnson 150 runs but no forward/reverse

I've gotten a little more optomistic about this situation after looking into it a bit further, but I'm stuck again. . .

There is definatly a problem with the shift linkage at basically the first place the throttle cable connects under the motor housing. There is an obvious piece that is broken.

The "shift rod retaining screw" runs through a plastic arm and is held in by a removable pin/clip. That plastic arm is broken into about several pieces some of which I can't locate. The shift rod retaining screw and the pin/clip are still in place and intact. I need to know what that little swinging plastic arm is called.

It's about 2-3 inches long and attached to a hinge/pivot bar on one end and to the shift rod retaining screw on the other end. It's stamped with a part number that I can't read because it's shattered. I'd post a picture of where it goes if I knew how.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
K

Kymatlo

Cadet
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
17
Re: '86 Johnson 150 runs but no forward/reverse

J150STLC. . . the rest on the model# plate is scratched off

I believe I found the part on one of the diagrams though. . .Linkage shift arm. . .thanks for the link. Hopefully this $5 piece of plastic is all I busted.
 
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