Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

[bluebrownie]

ok..putting the lower unit lube in...i took out the shift cradle screw by accident... had good thread on teh screw, but it's not catching upon putting it back in... and its flush to the screw housing... just not catching... what can i do??????help, going on vacation tomorrow night...can anything be done?

JOHNSON 50hp year 1996..... help thanks...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

when you do that, the yoke, usually moves. and it is extremely hard to realign. may require disassembly of lower unit.

 

[bktheking]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

Is the hole in the cradle lined up in order to put the screw in? The cradle moved and probably isn't lined up. Have you tried shifting the motor to try and line the hole up, you may have to get creative.

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

OK... i am capable of dropping the lower unit... can someone walk me thru the steps to get ithe the shift rod etc. back in alignment or reconnected...? only 4 bolt to take off... drop the lower and then what... UGH...hide the knives honey...!!!!!!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

HIDE THE KNIVES, PILLS, ANYTHING SHARP.

if you cannot work it back in place with lower attached, i doubt you will with dropping the lower.

not being pessimistic, but that is the way it is. as i said may require complete teardown of lower unit.

one of the reasons we recommend the Original Johnson Service Manual.

 

[Rick.]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

Lay it on it's side with lots of good light. Very carefully move the shift rod while watching for the cradle hole to appear and then line up. Once it does you should be able to get the screw back in. I have done it with a 9.9 not a 50 but I'm guessing the procedure would be the same. Keep trying and hopefully it will work for you. If you aren't seeing the holes line up try holding the leg in the vertical, on it's back upside down or what ever it takes. Best of luck. Rick.

Edit. I used an awl to help line up the two holes.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

I'm with Rick, a 50 is gonna be tough. I did it to a 9.5 many years ago (before I learned the don't touch this screw thing) and had to stand the motor upside down to get it back.

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

what do you mean.. "complete teardown of the lower unit?" after dropping the lower...whats the rest entail? if i were able to get a shop to do it, what do ya think it'd likely cost ...? i am up against the clock...
tx for allyou guys post...

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

anyone?

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

anyone

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

Just guessing a shop would need more notice than "can you have it tomorrow?" A complete tear down takes some time. I have never done it but looked at that section my manual alot. Take the shafts, gears, water pump, clutch, bearings, shift assembly, etc. out. Replace all the seals. If you are going to you might as well replace anything that look even slightly worn out. A rebuilt LU for my 70 hp Johnson runs about $1,600.00 with a core traded in according to on line ads I've seen, that's just the part. Sorry about your vacation. Now is the time to pray you can line up the holes & get that screw in.

 

[Mas]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

Keep wiggling the shifter and position the motor differently (maybe tilting it up and side to side). Have an awl ready at hand to help position if you catch a glimpse of it and align the hole. I was able to do it with my 35...have not tried a 50 though.

Good luck,

Mas

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

IF i can get it aligned... does the shifter cradel screw actually screw into the opposite side of the rod...? or does it mereley sit in the hole.... ?

 

[Rick.]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

It will screw into the hole that becomes visible to you. I know you under pressure hear and this is a job that requires patience. Give it your best try and save your holiday. A tear down would consist of removing all the parts in the gear case and you don't want to go there. I haven't a guess as to the cost.. Rick.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

No, I do not think a tear down is necessary to get the shift cradle screw back in place. Holy Gads TD, I thought I would have known you better than that.

Just chill out.....grab a cold beer....crack it and take a big swig. It's not an emergency. If your eye sight is decent, you'll be able to look into the hole, where the screw came from and see the cradle. Stop freakin out! You'll easily be able to see the hole in the shift cradle inside......come on now...don't stress it!! Okay...just use the awl to line the holes up......hey now...stop stressin it! now once you get the holes lined up, put the screw back in. There you go. No muss. No fuss. Just simple stuff. Okay people? No more freakin out here. No need to drop the lower unit and tearing into it. After all, you have to assemble the lower unit, to put this booger in, anyhow.

So, stop listening to others freak out and just do it as I described. Everything will be cool.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

Just checkin back to see if anyone is still freakin out about lining up those holes...........guess not.

Good luck on your projects guys and watch out for those holes.

 

[F_R]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

OK, let's all stop and make some sense out of this thing. Are we talking about a 1996 motor? If we are, you have lost me before we even begin, but MAYBE the stuff fell out of place inside, especially with all the wiggleing and stuff. And MAYBE the whole thing might have to come apart, a major job. Like I said, I don't know because it's too new for me.

But I can help with an old trick we used on older motors. If you can get the parts almost lined up, but not quite, then grind or file a slight bevel on the end of the pin. Insert it so the now-pointy end enters the almost aligned holes. Using gentle inward presure, rotate the pin. The pointy end will bring the holes into alignment, and slide right in.

However, the above won't work if the parts inside completely fell out of place. That's where the teardown comes into the picture.

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

OK...so i was able to line up the shift rod... but the screw had aluminum on it... and it won't seat ....so i dropped it at the marine shop...guy says that it might need a new case and healy coil... worst case scenario...1200 for new case and additional labor etc.... is there a cheaper way to get a lower "case" as he says...? HELP... i need to be informed when he calls tomorrow wiwth the news as to whether he can get teh screw to set or needs to do the major work...THANKS....hide the knives...

 

[bluebrownie]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

anyone

 

[F_R]

Re: Shift cradle screw stripped...help..going on vacation tomorrow night!!!!

Well if the threads are stripped in the case, I'm afraid your guy is right. It should be repairable with a Heli-Coil, but he is covering his butt just in case it is not successful. If that happens, it means a new gearcase--or a used one if you can find one.