no forward

[imported_hippie]

well boys, I took my 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse out on the water for the first time today, I did a series of tests to ensure that the cooling system was working properly, all was a, ok. however; when I got her out in the water and tried to shift it into forward, i got nothing, engine just revs, reverse works dandy, infact I needed to use this to get back to the dock, any ideas would be great, thanks in advance.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: no forward

That's a mechanical shift you've got isn't it?

If so, it sounds like you haven't got the shift rod fully into the shift rod connector. Should be like this:

You must completely remove each bolt to get the shift rod in place, since the bolt indexes into the rod.

If that doesn't check out, then there's something wrong with the link adjustment/clevis or the shift cradle inside the lower unit is out of place (unlikely).

 

[imported_hippie]

Re: no forward

I will check it out and let ya know, I did have this apart to replace the impellor and do know it was a tough to to get it into place,

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: no forward

Yeah, it can be bad. As part of my regular routine I get out a flashlight and shine it in through the coupler bolt holes to make sure the rods are fully in there. They get hung up pretty easily.

Don't torque the coupler bolts hard - they're just into a bit of brass and they strip out easily. Iit's the divits on the shift rods that hold them in place, not the clamping action. I try to restrain myself by using a nut driver.

 

[imported_hippie]

Re: no forward

ok, I got in there and took a look, looks like this is the most likely problem. after inspecting the shift rod I noticed that the index part was showing, so I removed the nut and used a set of needle nose to push up into place and reinstalled nut, when I shift out of the water I am now hearing a click in all gears, so I sure hope this is where the problem lies, I will take her back out for a test run again tomorrow and keep you posted, thanks again for all the help.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: no forward

Sounds like ya got it! Good luck8)

 

[imported_hippie]

Re: no forward

Well I think that was part of the problem, however when I got out on the water today, I had forward for about 5 seconds and then nothing, no reverse, no nothing, I had to paddle back to shore, good thing I had my wife with me to do the majority of the work, lol,,, any ways, I opened up the peek hole to the shift rod, and all was still good??? well I dragged it home again and started to investigate, after removing the prop it seems that there is no connection to the main drive shaft, I see the holes in the prop assembly and I also see a type of push away bolt on the shaft itself to secure the prop, however I can not figure out how to make this thing connect, I hope that made sense??? any help would be great.

 

[imported_hippie]

Re: no forward

just an update, after searching the threads and doing some additional homework, I noticed the piece on the shaft I was trying to describe was the shear pin, I have removed it and did further inspection on my prop and shaft, I can not see how how this thing fits in snug the way you are describing, there are no groves are anything on either the prop or the shaft, so I am not sure if i need to get it re-machined or what the situation is,,, any ideas if this year had a prop that was set up that way or if they are all generic from year to year.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: no forward

Hippie, I'm confused....you say " I can not see how how this thing fits in snug the way you are describing, there are no groves are anything on either the prop or the shaft"

I read up this thread and I don't see where anyone says that the shear pin (drive pin) should be snug....

I did see Paul's reply regarding the shift linkage and his suggestion , not to overtigtning the bolt.

As for the shear pin, the drive shaft turns, which drives the shear pin. Since the pin goes thru the prop, it too it turned with the shaft. The purpose of the drive pin (shear pin) is to protect the lower unit gears if an obstruction is hit by the prop. If the pin shears , you should have 3 pieces, one on either side of the prop, and a piece in the drive shaft hole. Remove all 3 pieces and replace with a new drive pin. Do Not substitute this drive pin with a nail. The drive pin is not a soft pin. Typically they are cast iron, designed to fracture at the drive shaft, thus 'shearing' the pin.

I'm assumming that since you had reverse, the broken pin ends were binding the prop just enough to make headway.

After re-reading your replies, you may not have had the linkage improperly adjusted, the reason for reverse only operation.

Newer motors can have splined drive shafts with mating splined prop hubs. There's ,of course, no need for a shear pin on these motors, the splines drive the prop. They do have a rubber inner prop hub that will 'spin' if an obstruction is hit. If this prop slips while under torque, the prop can be 're-hubbed" at a prop shop for a nominal fee.

 

[imported_hippie]

Re: no forward

sorry about that, I was just trying to read other threads to make heads or tails of this situatuion, however; you have answered the question to a "T" thanks for your time and understanding, I will go and pick up a few additional Shear Pins, thanks again;

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: no forward

As a matter of interest, hippie's so called shear pin prop actually uses a rubber hub as well. Since the rubber hub is supposed to slip, OMC called the "shear pins" drive pins. Of course, sometimes the shock is great enough to shear the driver pin.
Sounds like someone had it bodged up with a bolt or something in there, which wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary. I guess it just couldn't handle the strain after all hippie's tune-ups.