99 Johnson 40hp outboard

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chad_whitt69

Cadet
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
11
Hi

I just purchased a boat and motor with a 99 40hp outboard Johnson 2 stroke. The motor starts and runs awesome, the problem that I'm having is that
when its shifted into either forward or reverse it just revs up like its in neutral, I'm pretty sure that it goes into gear because when the motor is off and in the neutrel posistion the prop turns free and when I put it into a gear either foward or reverse the prop doesnt turn. If anyone could help me with this problem that would be great, I picked up the boat and motor cheap so I'm hoping it will be a easy fix.
 
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Haffiman

Commander
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Dec 17, 2009
Messages
2,454
Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

Have you tried blocking the prop with a piece of wood and the turn the flywheel?
Have you tried shifting directly on the engine with gear cable disconnected from the engine?
 
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chad_whitt69

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Aug 20, 2011
Messages
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Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

So if I block the prop with a piece of wood and turn the flywheel the flywheel shouldn't turn? No I haven't tried shifting it a the motor yet.
 
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chad_whitt69

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Aug 20, 2011
Messages
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Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

Are these motors known to have this problem or is this out of the ordinary ?
 
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Haffiman

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Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

Perhaps not the most common problem,but hopefully not a big deal.
 
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chad_whitt69

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Aug 20, 2011
Messages
11
Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

Im pretty sure there is a problem in the LU, when its in gear I turn the the flywheel and the prop wont turn and then some times it will catch, but Im not exactly sure how its suppose to work
 
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Haffiman

Commander
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
2,454
Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

Providing your linkage is giving full stroke, time to tear down that gear case!
Drain some oil from it and check for metal shavings!
 
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chad_whitt69

Cadet
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
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Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

I drained it, there was quite a lot of metal debris on the magnet and in the cantainer I drained it in. I actually just found out that the motor is a 97, not a 99. Now I just have to find the nut that holds the shift linkage on so I can drop the LU.
 
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chad_whitt69

Cadet
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
11
Re: 99 Johnson 40hp outboard

I'm pretty sure that I have removed all the bolts, removed linkage but still can't drop the lower unit, doesn't even seem to want to move, do you usually have to use force to get these out????
 
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