Reverse sometimes????? 1995 Johnson 40 hp

[Sdad]

My outboard will go in reverse sometimes and sometimes it won't. When it won't go in reverse i can hear it clicking like it does when it is shifted slowly into gear. I am hoping it is just a cable adjustment that needs to be made. Can anybody walk me through how and where to do this. I forgot to mention this is a remote throttle and shift, not a tiller. Forward works fine.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Reverse sometimes????? 1995 Johnson 40 hp

Disconnect the shift cable from the engine.
Put the engine shift lever in neutral and the remote in neutral.
Check the engine linkage first:
While turning the prop, slowly shift towards forward. Stop and note the travel of the arm as soon as the clutch dog starts 'ticking' in the gear house. Do the same in reverse. The angle of travel of the arm should be the same.
If not the same, your gearcase must be down and the vertical shift rod adjusted.
Put the lever in neutral, take the shift cable, attach it to the shift lever and pull out the slack - push it in and then back to the middle position. Adjust the trunnion on the cable so it just drops into the bracket at this point. Have someone turning your prop and do the same test on the remote handle as you did on the arm. The angle of travel from neutral to forward and reverse should be the same. If not, readjust the cable trunnion.