First time boat owner.

[Jaytlittle]

Just bought my first boat. She's a 1970 15' tri-hull with a 60hp evinrude (triumph). She seems very solid and fired right up. I was just wondering if there are any particulars I should be keeping an eye out for.

I dI'd find that she doesn't want to shift out of forward and I've been reading through the forums and first things first I am going to change the gear lube and see if that changes anything. I did check the blue and green wires that run down into the lower unit and they both were reading just a smidge under 12V. If changing out the gear oil (lube) doesn't change anything, what else could be causing the problem?

Thanks guys!
Jay
An excited first time boat owner.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Welcome aboard.

In a 47 year old boat, i would be looking for rot

 

[racerone]

Does the motor shift to reverse?--------On the muffs the prop may still turn in nuetral.--------Will fool you.

 

[Jaytlittle]

No, it won't shift in to reverse.

 

[boobie]

Report back after you change the oil.

 

[jimmbo]

What oil are you planning to use in the gear case?

 

[Vic.S]

Just bought my first boat. She's a 1970 15' tri-hull with a 60hp evinrude (triumph). She seems very solid and fired right up. I was just wondering if there are any particulars I should be keeping an eye out for.

I dI'd find that she doesn't want to shift out of forward and I've been reading through the forums and first things first I am going to change the gear lube and see if that changes anything. I did check the blue and green wires that run down into the lower unit and they both were reading just a smidge under 12V. If changing out the gear oil (lube) doesn't change anything, what else could be causing the problem?

Thanks guys!
Jay
An excited first time boat owner.

Be sure to use the correct oil ~~~~ a Type C oil, for electric shifts, not the high viscosity oil that you would use in a manual shift.

 

[jjacobs007]

I would rebuild the carbs, fuel pump and thermostat and change starter solenoid and starter if looks really old if you want to avoid a drive to lake with a drive back home minutes later day.

 

[sixty minutes]

Jay,
If your outboard does not shift out of forward the throttle cables may need replaced in an old boat. I assume the motor has remote controls. The ends on the cables inside the shift lever wear out over the years and they slip. I would also change all the filters,the water pump, and all lube oils on a used motor.

 

[ezmobee]

This is an electric shift motor sixty minutes so there is no shift cable. jjacobs007's advice is sound but I wouldn't do any of that until I got it shifting right. There are some crucial NLA parts for the electric shift system so I wouldn't put a dime into it otherwise until that was squared away.

 

[racerone]

Do some simple testting / inspection.------Remove cover on control box.----Are wires still hooked up to the shift switch.---Also find the green and blue wires at the motor that go to the lower unit.---Slide rubber cover back.----Open the connecters.--Start motor and apply 12 volts to green.--Motor should shift to nuetral.----Apply 12 volts to both wires and you should get reverse.--------Simple testing will get you answers every time

 

[Jaytlittle]

Picked up Sierra Type C Electric Shift Gear Lube from Jalensky's last night, I'll be changing it out sometime this week (if the rain ever stops).

I've been reading a number of posts on different forums leading me to believe that the mechanisms that shift this system do tend to "stick" or get "hung up" if these motors sit for long periods of time. As I just purchased her I don't know her history other then what the seller told me. I have a feeling that it may have been a long time since she's had an oil change so I am planning to run her for a good hour or two on the muffs after i change out the lube and then change it again just to try and "flush" the system.

 

[Jaytlittle]

Did the oil change using "Sierra Type C Electric Shift premium gear lube" (the old oil was milk) and let her run for about 60 minutes on the muffs. I'm just speculating but i dont think the previous owner did anything other then drive her. Unfortunately she still isn't shifting out of forward. I pulled the dog house and tested both the blue and green wires running down into the lower unit (while she was running). Both have power. I also tried applying 12v manually to both wires by running a lead off a battery, still nothing.

Any suggestions?

 

[boobie]

Do an ohm test on the green wire and the blue wire to ground. Should have 5 to 6 ohms.

 

[racerone]

The oil filter screen in front of the oil pump has been know to break.-This spreads debris into the system.-----Particles then are embedded in the shift piston bore and prevent shifting.------May be a broken lever on a valve as well.-----This unit is very well engineered but after 47 years it may be time to pull it apart for inspection and a reseal kit.---And it is not that hard to do.

 

[Jaytlittle]

Been searching you tube looking for a reference point, but I'm not finding anything specific to the electric shift. Anyone know of a link? I'm pretty mechanically inclined but I've never worked on anything other then older cars/trucks and the last thing I want to do is go in blind.

 

[Jaytlittle]

Took her out to a local lake this morning and ran her around for a few hours. She runs great, plenty of power (although she would definitely benefit from a whale tail). Still not shifting out of forward, so the search continues to locate a video for reference before I start to brake her down. Hopefully I'll find something soon.

 

[jimmbo]

http://www.boatinfo.no/lib/evinrude/manuals/1971-1989johnsonevinrude.html#/428

It says 50HP. but the gearcase for the 60 is very similar, and should come apart the same

 

[Jaytlittle]

Thank you Jimmbo

 

[jjacobs007]

I have a 1970 johnson electric Shift, I work on these all the time, tell me exactly what its doing
I can tell you how to check ohms and such.