Johnson 60- Shifter cable

[Sonwatcher]

I have a '66 Johnson 60. I cannot get it into Forward with the cable. At first I adjusted the cable and could get forward but no reverse. Then I adjusted the reverse on the cable and could not get forward. I disconnected the cable and manually it will adjust in forward and reverse. When connected the cable moves as it should but when I put the gear in forward and attach the cable I put it in Neutral and tried to go back to forward and reverse it wouldn't happen. The motor was running when I did this testing as well as doing it with the motor off and turning the prop.<br /><br />Any suggestions ? If it is the cable , with it working what would cause it to not be able to pull it in gear when it does go in gear manually?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Johnson 60- Shifter cable

Are you connecting the right cable Sonwatcher? And the engine should be in neutral when the cable is attached.<br /><br />Disconnect the cable and operate the control. The shift cable should move first.<br /><br />Are you working with old cables or new? If there are any splits in the cable, throw it out and get a new one.

 

[Sonwatcher]

Re: Johnson 60- Shifter cable

There is only one cable on my shifter. Yes I have attached it in neutral. I haven't noticed a split anywhere. I didn't disconnect at the shift box but right at the shifter arm. I am not sure how old the cable is.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Johnson 60- Shifter cable

Sonwatcher....you need two cables. One for shift and one for throttle.<br /><br />I'm almost willing to bet your trying to shift with the throttle cable.<br /><br />How long have you had the rig?

 

[Sonwatcher]

Re: Johnson 60- Shifter cable

Hee hee, yes there are 2 cables on the shift box, When you first mentioned the 2 cables I thought you meant on the shifter lever arm. I have been using the boat for 2 years and NO I am not using the throttle cable. I said I disconnected the shifter cable at the shifter arm and moved the Shifter cable at the box and at the shifter arm end of the cable it is moving back and forth as it should. (The throttle cable attaches to the throttle on the opposite side of the motor.) But when the shift cable is connected it will not pull the shifter arm on the motor into gear even after adjusting the thumb wheel.It does move the arm but will not pull it all the way into gear. With the cable disconnected at the shifter arm the arm shifts into gear manually. I hope this clarifies what I said earlier.

 

[ob]

Re: Johnson 60- Shifter cable

Only thing you can do is adjust the cable by removing it from the shift arm and placing the controls and the shift arm in the neutral position and adjusting trunion until the cable eye lines up with the hole and then reconnecting.If this does no good ,then there is a problem where the cable attaches to the control lever( not affording enough travel) or the cable itself is internally parting , stretched , kinked and will need to be replaced.