97 Johnson 40 reverse/forward gear issue

[Spartans]

Hello. I have a Johnson 40 remote that I’m trying to diagnose an issue I’m having. When I put the control into either forward or reverse to the first detent (omc remote). I hear a rattle similar to grinding.

If you engage the throttle and stop just a little further past the detent it shifts fine. Other than that no problems

I adjusted the cables as much as I could and I’m wondering if I have to drop the lower end to measure the shift rod length as it seems to me that it appears that it’s not fully engaging

noise seems to come from power head and not lower end but that might not mean anything as noise travels

thanks

 

[racerone]

Those gearcases are not know to be robust.----Drain the oil see what condition is it in.----Yes you have to remove the lower unit to measure shift rod height.----And you have to shift with a quick firm motion.----It is a mistake to ease it into gear.

 

[Spartans]

Correct. That is with a brisk shift. It should be able to idle in gear without noise and it has noise only until you move the throttle lever a little more so hence the suspicion regarding the shift rod

 

[racerone]

??----Follow these ultra simple instructions.-----Disconnect the shift cable.---Remove lower unit.--Set shift rod height.-----Install lower unit.---Install shift rod pin ------Make sure lower unit is in neutral.-----Adjust trunnion on shift cable to slip on the linkage.

 

[Spartans]

10-4. I’ll give it a try and report back

 

[Spartans]

Update. Dropped lower end and shift rod ok. Oil ok too

Bugged me that it’s happening in both reverse and forward. Had some one help me move the throttle while I watched the shift arm. It had inconsistent travel no matter how the cables were adjusted when repeated

removed and opened control box - seemed to have lots of wear play in some of the plastic bushings so I swapped it out with a known good (much newer) control box and it fixed the problem.

all set now