Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

[crazyhorse18771]

I have a 90 horsepower johnson meteor outboard motor model v4ml,ser#j2440208 and it will not go forward.<br />I've checked the green and blue wire and i am getting power back there.<br />Does anybody have any ideas?

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

Steve, you are going to have to include more info on your post like a full serial number or include the year of the engine. What type of controls. Also, have a repair manual of your year/motor handy so that you can identify all necessary parts and follow procedures in the CORRECT sequence which is essential for any electronic diagnosis.<br />I am sure you will get lots of replys with a little more info!

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

Steve.... In reading your question/explanation, I assume that you have one of the older (approx 1964) 90hp Johnson electric shift engines (NOT Hydro Electric Shift).<br /><br />If you have 12 volts to the green and blue wires (not both at the same time of course) as you state, the next step is to check the resistance of the shift coils. Disconnect the green and blue wires at their knife connector leading to the lower unit, then check the resistance with a ohm meter. The resistance should be the same.<br /><br />If the above is okay, then the cause would have to be a broken hub clutch spring. The cure, in which case, would be to replace both the hub and spring.<br /><br />Should you find that you need the hub & spring, I still have a couple of them in my remaining stock. ReevesJ32@aol.com

 

[Walker]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

The first thing I would do is disconnect bothe the green and the blue wire. If it goes into forward with them disconnected then you have a switch problem in your controls.

 

[crazyhorse18771]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

joe.....<br /> i get a 10 om reading on one wire,and it pegs the needle on the other,can't tell which is blue or green.real old wires

 

[OBJ]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

Steve,<br />Assuming you tried the ohms reading at different scales just as a check, it would appear either the wire lead has gone to ground or the coil in the lower unit has gone to ground. Another assumption, most likely the forward gear coil or wire to the coil. If your readings are accurate, the next step would be to drop the lower unit and check the wireing to the gear case. I strongly reccomend a service manual for your engine if you are going to tackle this job. The old electric shifts have their quirks and can be a pain to get apart. Hopefully you will find a frayed wire and be spared the expense of a shift coil.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

Steve, one more question. Have you been using a gear lube especialy made for electric shifts as would be a Premium C lube from OMC (Bombardier)?

 

[crazyhorse18771]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

took bottomend apart before dark,oil had water in it,also wires are stripped in areas,the wire is really old,should i buy new coil on up and where would i find one?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

The lead wires are connected to the coils inside the gear case via knife connectors. Maybe all you need is a new lead to the coils. If you can separate the lead from the coils and check the coil again, you may find the coil to be good. I'm not real sure but I believe the coils are no longer available from OMC (Bombardier). Although you may find one at a dealership if needed. May be used but may be OK. Check the coil first though before you start spending.

 

[crazyhorse18771]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

thanks jim

 

[crazyhorse18771]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

walker,,,i disconnected the wires at the lake and still nothing.tried that.<br /> thanks

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Boat works in neutral and reverse, but wont go forward, Help?

When you have no juice to either coil, you'll be in neutral. The "newer" LUs, 1969-1972, are in forward when there is no voltage applied to either coil.