1999 johnson 50 model # j50pleea shift rod height length?

[replicaracks]

I just bought this motor and did and impeller and lower unit oil change, put lower unit back in and had no reverse,I unhooked cable and tried shifting by hand,prop was going in reverse but It was not locked in almost like I could stop it with my hand,I then adding a little pressure by hand trying to force in reverse, and it locked in,but only if I was holding pressure on the shift rod,I then removed the unit again and messed with the shift rod length by unscrewing it several turns,reinstalled,and now I have it way off. Can someone please explain how I set the correct rod length.Detailed instructions would be great as Ive never done this. I am hoping its my rod length and not in the lower unit. I can engage all gears by hand with the unit off the motor.Thanks for any help you can give me.Ben

[boobie]

The shift rod height in neuutral should be 21 15/16 in +/_ 1/32in from the surface of the g/c to the center of the rod hole with the off set facing forward. You can change this by screwing the rod in or out.

[replicaracks]

Thanks for the info, now can someone please tell me how to properly measure ? What is the surface of g/c? Thanks again for your help and sorry to sound so dumb,.... Never worked on boat motors before

[boobie]

The surface of the g/c is where it seperates from the exhaust hsg. You measure from there to the the center of the shift rod in neutral of course. If you're going to continue doing this you may want to get an OEM factory service manual.