shifting issue with 1999 150 johnson

[bob johnson]

Ive had a shifting issue with my 150 ocean runner this past winter. I would shift it into gear and it would grind, I would take it out and put it back into gear and repeat until it finally caught and I was moving forward...sometimes If i shifted fast and all way into the throttle some...it would catch more often.... so I took the cover off and i adjusted the cable a little to give it MORE forward engagement... then id have that same issue in reverse a little... so it was a fine line. to try and adjust the linkage. I think back to having some gear cases apart and I think it might be the shifter dog is rounding over the edges...at least thats what happened on my older 30 hp ... I also remember the old codger mechanic at the old shop told me the cable might be stretched... as a possible problem to that scenario i had.... now i want to address this issue, and Id like a little more advice and insight from the group before I pick which path to try and solve this shifting issue... I will say that usually, once I t went into gear, it seemed to go into gear fine from then on, until I had a long spell of not using the boat that day... IE, Id start the boat up and I could get it into gear, then fianlly im going and then while I drove the boat around, and stopped and started over the course of a half hour or so.. the boat would give me no issue... then if I parked it for 3 hours, id have that issue when i went to move the boat the next time.. I have a side mount closed control.. Id like it to be a shift cable issue, as replacing parts in the LU is more of a chore!.... thanks

 

[racerone]

Has anyone been operating / shifting this motor with motor not running ??-----Have you checked the shift rod height ??-----In my opinion some of these lower units are not as robust as earlier versions.-----Just did a 97 model 150 gearcase.-----Two teeth broken on pinion gear.-----What a mess inside it !!----Step # 1 is to check shift rod measurement.-----Use the best factory oil available.

 

[bob johnson]

Has anyone been operating / shifting this motor with motor not running ??-----Have you checked the shift rod height ??-----In my opinion some of these lower units are not as robust as earlier versions.-----Just did a 97 model 150 gearcase.-----Two teeth broken on pinion gear.-----What a mess inside it !!----Step # 1 is to check shift rod measurement.-----Use the best factory oil available.

from memory, I think Id have to remove the LU to check the shift rod height..... is that correct? I got a tip just now from my old codger mechanics son, he said to remove the shift cable and try shifting by hand at the motor(while running) to see if the problem is still present.. and to try shifting the cable and see if there is play in the cable, from the shifter....and NO no one if shifting the controls while the motor is NOT running

 

[racerone]

Model # of your motor ?-----It may shift with cables removed.---And yes you will see the prop turning.-----But how would you determine / know that the clutch dog is fully locked into forward gear ????---So take the lower unit off and check / set the shift rod height.-----Make sure you use information that applies to your motor.

 

[bob johnson]

Model # of your motor ?-----It may shift with cables removed.---And yes you will see the prop turning.-----But how would you determine / know that the clutch dog is fully locked into forward gear ????---So take the lower unit off and check / set the shift rod height.-----Make sure you use information that applies to your motor.

whelp..ive got to back up a little, but i probably doesnt matter... the power head is off a 1999 150 johnson....but it is on a 1997 Johnson FAST STRIKE with a model # of J175gleue. hope that helps..

 

[Faztbullet]

Morning Bob...................has gearcase had water in it?

 

[bob johnson]

Morning Bob...................has gearcase had water in it?

i havent checked in 5 months, but 5 months ago when i was about to start taking it out for the season, there was no water in the LU!....... i guess "had" can go back a long time.... but this shifting issue is new this past winter.. ive been running this motor combo for 5 years now.

 

[Chris1956]

When you take the gearcase off, check where the shift rod goes thru the shift cover. Those covers can corrode and swell grabbing the shift rod tightly, causing the shift linkage to give and not allowing the motor to shift into forward easily.

 

[bob johnson]

When you take the gearcase off, check where the shift rod goes thru the shift cover. Those covers can corrode and swell grabbing the shift rod tightly, causing the shift linkage to give and not allowing the motor to shift into forward easily.

the mechanics son mentioned the o-rings that the shift rod goes through in the LU can cause issues with shifting as well....i have a few things to check out this weekend.

 

[racerone]

Not an issue with the o-rings.-----The issue would be corrosion products jamming the hole where the rod goes through.-----The white powder is ALUMINUM OXIDE.-----Aluminum combined with oxygen.-----Now more material in there ( oxygen ) thus it jams stuff up.----Some would scrape that out.----Others will just install a new cover with the 2 o-rings.