No Reverse

[mcdonald331]

I have what i think to be a 1975 85hp Johnson it runs great (out of the water) but when i put it in reverse it revs up but the prop spins the same direction as fwd just not as fast. also when i put it in the water it only went about 3 to 5 mph if that? Please Help.

 

[schnarr]

Re: No Reverse

un hook the shift linkage and shift it by hand at the motor it may be a cable or the control box

 

[jtexas]

Re: No Reverse

welcome to iboats!

Model number should be on the engine mounting bracket, from that we can find the year.

Please be a little more specific...boat in the water, in forward gear, in doesn't go more than 5mph while the engine revs up? If that's the case, scratch a mark on the end of the prop hub and across the rubber insert, run the motor, then check to see if the marks are still lined up. If not, the hub is spun and can be fixed by a prop shop.

What happens when you put it in reverse, with the boat in the water? Does the boat go forward?

Don't rev it up unless the lower unit is underwater, it needs backpressure on the exhaust to prevent thermal runaway and potentially catastrophic failure.

 

[mcdonald331]

Re: No Reverse

yes the boat goes fwd very slowly

 

[mcdonald331]

Re: No Reverse

also the mod# is 85ESL70B ser# J3327386 Hydroelectric 85hp Johnson

 

[F_R]

Re: No Reverse

Your original question says that the prop runs forward when the shift is in reverse. You need to start by checking the oil in the lower unit. The oil doubles as a hydraulic fluid. Use Type C (BRP Premium blend) oil only.

Moving on, you say it won't go when in in forward. Check the prop hub as already suggested. However, is it making grinding noises when it won't go? If so, you have extremely serious problems in the lower unit. Think big $$$