1964 Johnson 40 electric-wont go forward or reverse

eriklane

Cadet
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
20
I went out last night with the 1964 Johnson 40 electric shift, and it gave me about 5 minutes of reverse, but never any fwd. Then after that, neither fwd nor reverse. Seems to me that its likely that the electrical shift mechanism isn't working? That ring that is in the LU with the 2 electric leads may be faulty, or it's not getting current. How can I test that? I put in all new LU oil prior. Motor runs beautifully however. Hate to get rid of it.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,195
Re: 1964 Johnson 40 electric-wont go forward or reverse

You test by checking the voltage at the green and blue wires behind the powerhead. Slide the insulating sleeves back but don't disconnect them Check voltage with key on and in gear. Should be 12 volts on green when in forward and 12 volts on blue when in reverse. Nothing else!!! If it passes this, then the switch and wires are all Ok.

Then disconnect the wires and check the resistance between each one (the ones that go to the lower unit), and ground. Should be 4 ohms, if I remember correctly without looking it up.
 

tx1961whaler

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
5,197
Re: 1964 Johnson 40 electric-wont go forward or reverse

What kind of lower unit oil did you put in? The electric shifts use a special oil (Type C, from the evinrude dealer...)
 

eriklane

Cadet
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
20
Re: 1964 Johnson 40 electric-wont go forward or reverse

Ok thanks, I'll try the electric test. I did use Type C oil...
 
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
11
Re: 1964 Johnson 40 electric-wont go forward or reverse

Erik,I have a 1967 40 evinrude-I have this problem,good luck-I checked with
a prop repair shop here/they said the coils for this are no longer available
 
Last edited:

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,195
Re: 1964 Johnson 40 electric-wont go forward or reverse

Not available? That's BS. But you won't want one anyway when you find out the price.
378553 forward coil is $271.12
378665 reverse coil is $464.84

Assuming the coils are bad without doing an electrical test before even thinking about tearing the gearcase apart is dumb.
 

eriklane

Cadet
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
20
Should have written back, it turned out that I'd spun the hub. Dumb. Simple solution, I just don't have much boating experience...
 

Sirrobin53

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
189
Glad for the update. Nice and simple. Not the first to have a spun hub.
 
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