Lower Unit Jumping out of Gear

[bcribb52]

1998 Johnson 200 HP. My mechanic says that my lower unit is jumping in and out of gear. How does this happen at 4000 rpm's? The motor sounds like its back firing through the exhaust when i'm running but the Johnson mechanic says its jumping out of gear.He also said he has adjusted the linkage .He says the lower unit needs to be taken apart and some gears replaced.The gear oil looks fine. When the motor is running at a lower rpm the lower unit sounds fine. The mechanic said he replaced the magnets under the flywheel also.Did this happen because of the unit jumping in and out of gear? The engine don't have a lot of hours on it. I have heard of other 1998 Johnson motors doing the same thing.

 

[hondon]

Re: Lower Unit Jumping out of Gear

I hope your tech is right.Check the gearcase out .Good luck.

 

[two2canoe]

Re: Lower Unit Jumping out of Gear

From the experience that I've had with my motor jumping out of gear, I can tell you that it feels like you hit something. Kinda like WHAM! It happens at speed because of wear to the dog and perhaps to the gear where the dog engages it. The mating surfaces get rounded off a bit then under the pressure of running at speed, they slip apart. Then because the shift linkage is in forward, they are forced back together. Repair is replacement of the dog and possibly the forward gear.