Re: 1960 Johnson QD 10 hp
There is an adjustment on the shift lever, just loosen the screw and find the "sweet spot" in the slot so you are in neutral when in the center detent of the shift/lock arm. If you lift the shift lock/detent arm away from the following pin on the shift lever, it will allow you to "feel" for sloppiness in the linkage and to see where you sit regarding adjustment. If the lock/detent arm is bent or warn to far away from the base of the following pin on the shift lever, it will not allow adequate travel for the shifter in order to place the transmission fully in gear. I normally have to create a bit tighter arc in the shift/lock arm in order to compensate for normal wear on the shift components. This allows for maximum travel in the shifter before it locks into the corresponding detent in the lock/detent arm. If these are not set properly, transmission damage will result from jumping out of gear into neutral while under power. A new shift dog will be needed and I can carefully reface the forward and/or reverse gears where the dog engages.....but only once. The gears are very costly, so carefull hand is required. Very very hard material to work with and one has to take time to keep temps down when reconditioning these drive tabs.