I have a 93 50hp johnson. It has no reverse, after checking the shift rod height, it was off, its now up to spec, but reverse isn't there... it came back more than it was, but definatly clutch dog, or rev, maybe both, as it grinds, and the prop spins free in rev. I thought id just keep it goin foreward and put off rebuilding the lu as long as i could. i was test running it in the lake, after about an hour, i dont even think i was at WOT the motor all of a sudden came down to a harsh half-idle, the prop was still turning and was barely inching the boat along at about a knot with the throttle all the way open. Luckily it was within 200 ft of the ramp, but it took forever to get there with plenty of stalls between there and the ramp. Once i got the boat home i eared it up and it ran fine, F-gear idled in foreward unloaded. I was thinking something may have broken and locked up a berring, hense the lake trouble. Is this a common thing when i clutch dog goes bad? I'd have expected the engine to race and the boat quit moving, (as it does in rev) not the engine turn down to a harsh barely sustainable 250 rpm and keep footing. The engine running fine at home shys me away from thinking the fuel sys is obstructed. This was the first time i was able to try out this motor as i had just put in on my pontoon after some ignition work. i plan on checking out the gear lube first thing, but has anyone ever had a motor do this due to anything other than a clutchdog? What all should i be looking at?
