Newbie here...sure am glad I found this forum! 
<br /><br />I've got a 1992, 25HP Johnson, electric start, long shaft, tiller motor that I bought used two years ago. It doesn't have too many hours on it, has been tuned, greased, oil changed, etc, and runs pretty good except for three things....<br /><br />1) There is a knocking sound that appears to come from the area about halfway down the shaft, near the upper exhaust port. The first mechanic I had work on it said he couldn't hear it (must have been deaf), and the second one told me he didn't know what it was. I'm convinced it shouldn't be there....so am I nuts or do any of you have any ideas? Is there a coupling in there that might be bent/loose or something?<br /><br />2) From time to time I have to play with the gear shift to get it to start. I've tested the Neutral Start Switch and it appears to work ok. There is no apparent wear on any of the linkage or contact surfaces that would create any slop. For all intents and purposes the motor looks new inside the cowling.<br /><br />3) On two occasions, the starter pinion gear has failed to jump up to engage the top gear (name?). A little knock on the starter with a wooden stick fixes it. I have sprayed the shaft with CLP, but don't have any grease on it due to cold weather sticking concerns. Is this common, or a precursor to having to rebuild the starter? Anything I can do short of pulling it apart?<br /><br />Any thoughts would be appreciated. <br /><br />Thanks.
<br /><br />I've got a 1992, 25HP Johnson, electric start, long shaft, tiller motor that I bought used two years ago. It doesn't have too many hours on it, has been tuned, greased, oil changed, etc, and runs pretty good except for three things....<br /><br />1) There is a knocking sound that appears to come from the area about halfway down the shaft, near the upper exhaust port. The first mechanic I had work on it said he couldn't hear it (must have been deaf), and the second one told me he didn't know what it was. I'm convinced it shouldn't be there....so am I nuts or do any of you have any ideas? Is there a coupling in there that might be bent/loose or something?<br /><br />2) From time to time I have to play with the gear shift to get it to start. I've tested the Neutral Start Switch and it appears to work ok. There is no apparent wear on any of the linkage or contact surfaces that would create any slop. For all intents and purposes the motor looks new inside the cowling.<br /><br />3) On two occasions, the starter pinion gear has failed to jump up to engage the top gear (name?). A little knock on the starter with a wooden stick fixes it. I have sprayed the shaft with CLP, but don't have any grease on it due to cold weather sticking concerns. Is this common, or a precursor to having to rebuild the starter? Anything I can do short of pulling it apart?<br /><br />Any thoughts would be appreciated. <br /><br />Thanks.