Johnson Stuck in Reverse

[lil' turkey]

I have a Johnson 10hp QD23R outboard. I was out on the lake with it today, and when I shifted from reverse to neutral nothing happened. The motor still starts and runs in reverse, but when you move the shifter, the shifter will move. It will not switch gears though. Any ideas??

Thanks for any advice you may have.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

If the shifter moves freely and doesn't act like it is catching any gear then I would check the shift rod to see if it is undone or broke.

If your shift rod is still attached and isn't broken then I would think the problem is in the gear case which may mean either a rebuild or replacement of the foot.

There should be a little plate on the foot or lower unit of the motor, behind that little plate (if I'm not mistaken) there you will find where the shift rod fastens together. Check and see if that shift rod moves when you move the shift lever. If it doen't move then the problem may be right up under the power head/block where the shift rod meets the shift lever.

 

[lil' turkey]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

The shift does move freely, and I did open that access. As I move the shift lever I can move the rods, and moving the lever by itself I can see the rods move just a little. To get to that shift rod, do I need to pull the motor to pull the lower unit? Or is there another way I can get to it.

Thanks

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

Moving the shift lever should move the rods with no slack or lost motion. If it does have lost motion, the inner shift lever inside under the powerhead is probably loose (screw fell out). If that is the case, it's off with the powerhead.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

I can't remember where I was reading about the foot removal for that year motor but if I'm not mistaken there is a plate that you can take off to get to the shift rod and drop the foot.

As FR said

Moving the shift lever should move the rods with no slack or lost motion. If it does have lost motion, the inner shift lever inside under the powerhead is probably loose (screw fell out). If that is the case, it's off with the powerhead.

I agree. By that I would start at the top of the motor and work your way down.

 

[lil' turkey]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

On the shaft of the motor there is an access panel where i can see the shift rod with 2 bolts. both those are in tact. are you saying that I can disconnect that and drop the shaft without taking the powerhead off?

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

Re-read my previous answer. If you can move the shift rod up and down without moving the shifter handle, the powerhead has to come off. This is not a 10hp, but you will get the idea.

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

Oh, and by the way..if you cannot get a wrench on the nuts holding the powerhead on, this is the tool you need. I made mine by heating a regular 1/2" box end wrench red hot and bending it.

 

[lil' turkey]

Re: Johnson Stuck in Reverse

F_R

Sorry I misread your post. This is all new to me with outboards. Two questions, When I remove the powerhead, will there be any gaskets I need to replace? And Will the shift rod need to be in a certain postition if and when I recconnect the linkage(assuming thats what it is?

Thanks