Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

[gotmach]

I was putting up to a dock when the boat in front of me decided to change docks and put it in reverse. I shifted real fast while moving forward into reverse. There was a grind then I lost reverse. It would rev, but not go anywhere. I still had Forward and got it back to the dock. After I pulled the boat out I played around with the controls and tried to spin the prop by hand. When the contols were in the Netural position the LU was in gear. When the controls were in the Reverse position the LU was in Netural.

Today I took a closer look at:

The controls seem to have good travel with the cables and I do not think they are the problem. I disconnected the inner cable and tried shifting by hand with the motor NOT RUNNING. With the shift lever Straight up and Down the motor appears to be in N and the prop spins freely. When I push the lever F towards the boat the prop still spins freely and acts like it is in N. When I push the lever rearward it appears to go into gear but pops right out when I spin the prop with my foot and then it feels as if a internal shaft is spinning.

Looking at it today looks oppisite of what I saw at the ramp when I pulled the boat out. The cold test tells me I have no forward gear and reverse will not stay in gear. Is this correct? All of my experience is automotive so any advice on how to dianose this properly will be greatly appreciated. What should I check first?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

At the engine where the adjustable threaded trunion on the shift cable clamps into the retaining socket, perhaps that sudden jerking movement caused it to pull free of that socket? (It happens)

 

[KYHunter2]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

Sounds like you damaged clutch dog .

If it worked , shifted properly etc. , before the incident.

Thats , the likely , problem.

Not, hard to repair, just need a manual .

Joe , knows , if its not the trunion , I'd think the clutch dog.

But, by all means follow Joe's instruction.

He's forgot more then I know about these motors.



KYHunter

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

The cable looked right when I inspected it the first time. When I moved the throttle F-R it appeard to be working properly and the adjustable part of the cable seemed to still be held down by the clamp. If I manually shift it without the motor running and the controls disconnected should the prop be able to move freely like it is? The inside cable is the one that shifts it correct? Is there any other test I can do before I tear it apart?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

Disconnecting the shift cable at the engine and shifting manually probably told you all you need to know......you likely got internal gear case damage. Could be anything from a busted clutch dog to a broken prop shaft. You won't really know till you get it apart.

 

[F_R]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

By what you say, you can feel an internal shaft spinning, that sounds like you twisted off the drive shaft. That shouldn't happen just from shifting though. It didn't tear out the prop hub did it?

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

The prop is old, How do I check the hub?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

draw a line with a permanent marker, across the rear of the propeller side to side across the whole hub , nut an all. put the boat in the water and give it a try,. then look at the hub. if all the lines are still in line it should be ok, if not the prop is slipping on the hub. and you have a worse problem

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

If it was slipping on the hub would it not still go into gear when I manually engaged the shift lever? Right now witht the engine not running I can not get it to go into gear, it just spins. My best bet is to drop the lower unit and dig in hun?

 

[F_R]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

If you cannot shift it manually with the controls disconnected, and you don't see anything wrong with the upper linkage, then I'm afraid you are correct you will have to drop the gearcase and look further down. That motor is strictly mechanical shift, no electrics or hydraulics, so it should be easy to figure out. Unfortunatly, it was also about at the end of my outboard career (I quit in 1978), so I don't have a lot of input to give concerning what could have gone wrong.

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

I dropped my lower unit, but have not tore it apart yet. I do have a question with the shift rod though. The shift rod moves freely and does not feel like it is connected to anything in the lower unit. I havent tried yet, but it feel like I could just pull it right out. Is this normal?

Below is a picture of my lower unit.

 

[F_R]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

No, it should not be loosy-goosy or pull out. There should be a very definite heavy click as it changes gears. The rod is threaded into the detent down in the nose of the gearcase. Broken? Threads stripped off? I dunno.

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

The shift rod moving freely would explain my shifting problems. I hope there is no other damage. Can I get to the part where the shift rod connects from the top or will I need to take the whole thing apart? Also where can I get a good exploded view of my lower unit so I can take it apart? Maybe I am lucky and just the part where the shift rod connects is bad. I hope the gears are still good.

 

[F_R]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

Go ahead and remove the cap where the rod goes down through. Can't hurt anything that isn't already done. Then at least you may be able to see what came loose. The whole thing has to come apart if the part that the shift rod screws into is the culprit. You would be wise to bite the bullet and buy a factory service manual if you have to go that far.

 

[F_R]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

BTW, I can send you a picture if you want to post your e-mail address.

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

mastiff@buckeye-express.com

Thanks

 

[gotmach]

Re: Shifting Issue -- 1977 Johnson 55hp

I got the email...thanks FR

Can a 1976 Electro shift lower unit off a 55hp be used on my 1977 55hp? What are the differences?