changed impellar then no reverse

clyner

Cadet
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
7
hey guys last year we pulled a rookie move an ran the boat out of water and it overheated and had to changed the impeller, the boat ran fine before it was overheated. i changed the impeller seemed to run good no over heating. nice were good to go right? nope. we get it out on the boat launch and we had no reverse gear. put it in reverse and we went forward lol right up the launch you could say. i searched all over lookign up this problem and havent found a fix for it., seems easy enough, just cant get all the right info about it./ its a 1971 johnson 50hp. :(
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: changed impellar then no reverse

very simple, no power to reverse solenoid.

Hydro Electric Shift)
(J. Reeves)

The shifting setup of the lower unit is what's called a "Hydro Electric Shift", which is quite complex consisting of voltage being applied to solenoids in the lower unit which in turn change oil passages via a oil pump that supplies various pressure on a spring loaded shifter dog. The wires leading to the lower unit (at the powerhead) are "Green" and "Blue". The engine must be running or cranking over in order to shift out of forward gear.

You CAN NOT use HI VIS lube in that lower unit. You MUST USE what OMC calls "Premium Blend" lube, commonly called "Type C". (A thinner lube)

In neutral, you need 12v to the "Green" wire.
In reverse, you need 12v to both wires, the "Green" one and the "Blue" one.
In forward, there should be no voltage to either wire. (The spring loaded shifter dog forces the unit into forward gear)

To check the lower unit for proper shifting to make sure you have no trouble there, remove the spark plugs to avoid problems and to allow a higher cranking speed.

This next step eliminates the actual shift switch in case problems may exist there.... Disconnect the blue & green wires at the knife connectors (the rubber insulated boots) leading to the lower unit at the powerhead, then using jumpers, take voltage direct from the starter solenoid to apply voltage to the "Green" wire for neutral, then both wires 'Green" & "Blue" for reverse (Remember the engine must be cranking over in order to shift).
With no voltage applied, the unit should be in forward. No need for a ground jumper... the lower unit's already grounded. You may crank the engine with the key switch or by energizing the starter solenoid with a jumper wire.
 

clyner

Cadet
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
7
Re: changed impellar then no reverse

so it actually had nothing to do with changing the impellar itself? in the lower unit for a couple years weve had it, weve used some marine lower end gear lube from walmart. that super tech gl-5 kind.

i checked for continuinty on the solonoids. the resistance while the motor was off, book says between 5-6ohms
one wire i got around 8
the other wire was 6.3

i lowered the unit to check for a burnt wire.

second time i checked them they were both around 52-53 i dunno what happened there

would low lube cause it to not shift properly?
since the one wire was at 8 does that make them defective?

my starters shot right now so i cant check for the power to the wires :confused::confused::confused::confused:
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: changed impellar then no reverse

no, it could have everything to do with changing the impeller, the wire could be broken, not reconnected properly, rubbed drive shaft, or melted by exhaust housing.

solenoids are in the lower unit. remember the wire that went down there?
 

clyner

Cadet
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
7
Re: changed impellar then no reverse

im loving the help, this has been a mess for awhile and im just gettin to figure out what it is, i droped the lower unit a bunch of times thinking i put it in wrong
 
Top