1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

Tpellus · Mar 18, 2011

I have a 1976 Johnson 115hp and I am having problems getting it to shift into forward gear. I have tried message with the linkage and have done everything according to the manual. I do not know what else the problem can be. Has anyone else had this problem with the motor. It shifts into reverse just fine.

Thanks for your help.

jonesg · Mar 18, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Give us more info to work with, did it ever shift ok, if yes what have you done in the meantime?
Have you installed a water pump or dropped the leg for any reason?
I would suspect the shift rod length.
Its adjusted by screwing in or out and it has to be set to a definate height to work properly.

Tpellus · Mar 19, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Yes it shifted okay for the 3 years I have owned it. Once I took it out of storage this year it started acting up. I have not installed a new water pump or dropped a leg. I have also tried messing around with the shift rod length. The motor shifts and runs perfectly fine when it is run on muffs but as soon as it is put in the water it will not shift into forward gear. When put into forward gear in the water the throttle increases but it is almost as if the prop does not spin.

Will Bark · Mar 19, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Sounds like a spun prop; the prop is spinning on the hub. Mark the hub and the prop put in water and engage the forward gear; pull out and see if the marks are still lined up; if not its off to the prop shop for rehubbing.

Tpellus · Mar 19, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Alright will check it out. Thanks for the advice. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Tpellus · Mar 23, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

After taking apart the lower end the other day we found that the gasket for the oil pump was thrown off and the oil pump was pretty gummed up with gunk. We are going to send everything through a parts washer that can be put through and replace all the gaskets. Hopefully this will help out with what is going on. Was reading through the manual and it seems like that oil pump has something to do with the pressure that is put on the gears when they are shifting.

boobie · Mar 23, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

You lost me someplace. A 1979 115 with an oil pump???

emdsapmgr · Mar 24, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

When you say it won't shift into gear, is that by shifting the control box handle? Did you disconnect the shift cable back at the engine and try shifting it by hand-what happens then?

boobie · Mar 24, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

What's the model # ??

Tpellus · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

I will get back to you with the model number later tonight. It will not shift into gear with the control box handle, but I can manually shift it. And I am not great with motors, my uncle is the gear head who is helping me out with it, so I do not know 100% if it is called an oil pump, I'm assuming its not after that post so I'll try to figure out what it is and post it later on. Sorry for all the confusion I'll try to straighten everything out.

Thanks again guys

Tpellus · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

The model number is 115etl760.. Sorry for the inconvenience but I accidentally wrote that it was a 1979 motor but it is a 1976 motor on a 1979 boat. Sorry if that screws things up.

Tpellus · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Also I am looking for a new bendix gear for it but cannot find it for the life of me. I have searched all throughout this forum and other forums and checked numerous websites and cannot find it. Does anybody know where I can purchase a new one. Thanks

boobie · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

What service manual do you have?? If you have that g/c completly appart it's tricky to get back together.

emdsapmgr · Mar 26, 2011

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

Re: Not shifting into forward gear.

That engine came with one of two types of starters on it. If you have a bosch starter, the starter drive gear is part number 385949 and is still stocked by any Bombardier dealer-about $ 30. If you have the prestolite starter, the drive is part number 391091 and is NLA from the factory. See your local Bombardier dealer and ask them to check other Bombardier dealers's stock across the country-there are still many new pcs of the 319091 available here is the U.S.

Tpellus · Mar 27, 2011

Re: 1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

Boobie, we do have the entire gear case apart but my uncle who was the previous owner rebuilt a majority of the lower end so he has had it all apart numerous times before.

And the following link is the manual that we have for the motor.

http://www.themanualstore.com/Evinrude-Johnson-Outboard-Repair-Manual-p/b736.htm

dew2 · Mar 27, 2011

Re: 1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

Starter gear http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/evinrude/B-0391091.html

The other gear http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/omc/O-0385949.html

What a difference in price!! If I had the prestolite I'd switch out starters for the price!

Here's what I would do check this starter it is for your motor
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...0741897QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

Tpellus · Mar 27, 2011

Re: 1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

And to emdsapmgr,

Just found out it is the prestolite starter. So I am going to have to call around and see if I can find that part. If I cannot find it I think I found a starter that will replace it. Does this one work? API MOT 2003N http://maxrules.com/fixomcstarter.html

dew2 · Mar 27, 2011

Re: 1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

You missed my last post above yours read it check it out

Tpellus · Mar 27, 2011

Re: 1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

Just saw that dew2. Thanks much for the help dew2! really appreciate it.

boobie · Mar 27, 2011

Re: 1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

The only thing I can remember right now is you have to have the G/C laying on it's port side when you install the shift rod and the prop shaft assy. That way the parts will mesh correctly.

1976 Johnson 115hp Not shifting into forward gear

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