Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson 75

I have a 1978 Johnson "stinger" 75 that's running great, however when the boat is running once I go into reverse it won't go back to neutral or forward. I've disconnected the linkage and started the motor, and manually shifted the lever to forward and neutral succesfully, but once I go into reverse I still have the same problem. Anyone have any ideas? I have the Seloc online manual and a manuals and more johnson/evinrude shop manual and haven't been able to identify anything to help me.

Thanks for the read! Once i turn off the motor and shift back to neutral it will fire up and go forward, but having to shut it down every time (particularly trying to load) it turns into an awfully complicated mess!

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

Couple things to add as well. a week ago I did change the LU fluid. Also if I use the controls up front when this happens and I go to forward, it will just just stay in reverse and speed up.

Also when motor is not running reverse to neutral to forward works fine...

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

Did this just start happening suddenly without warning or is the boat new to you? How does it behave when you try to shift in the driveway? When you shift it at the helm can you see the shifter lever moving in the proper direction at the engine?

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

The boat is new to me. It only occurs while the engine is running (driveway, water no difference). No problem when not running prop free spins in neutral, and wont spin in reverse or forward. It works fine if I kill the motor and go to neutral, then i can shift back forwards...I see throttle adjustments everywhere in the manuals, but the shifter itself seems to not exist!...The shift lever with the control moves freely to forward and reverse, it just stick in reverse even if the shifter on the motor shows forward?

When i go into reverse, if I use the control to shift to forward it just stays in reverse and throttles up and down as if I was pulling hard reverse on the stick even through the shifter on the motor clearly is far forward as if in forward gear.

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

It did not have this problem the first day out, (had it for a week and been out 4 times). I've read about someone filling the lower unit with diesel and shifting through the gears to loosen up everything and then draining and refilling with LU fluid with the motor not running any thoughts on this?

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

From what you have described, the helm control and cables are moving to their proper positions, and something in the gearcase is sticking. Trying a flush sounds like a good idea. Hopefully a manual gearbox member can give more insight.

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

oldrudedude said:

From what you have described, the helm control and cables are moving to their proper positions, and something in the gearcase is sticking. Trying a flush sounds like a good idea. Hopefully a manual gearbox member can give more insight.

Click to expand...

What would you use for a flush? and you would simply drain the LU and refill with the "flush" then drain and refill with fluid correct?

Re: Shifts from neutral to forward to reverse...but wont get back to neutral Johnson

Flush with diesel or kerosene. Fill it and run it without putting it underload, run it through the gears a bunch of times. Drain it, see what comes out. Might want to do it several times until the flush comes out clean. Does it shift smoothly now? When you refill it with oil, run it and put it through the gears again. Drain it again to get all the flush out. Refill with oil.

There may be a better way but that is how I would do it.