Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

B

brettogc

Cadet
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Messages
6
Hi all, I have recently picked this little ski boat up with I think about a mid '70s 135 Johnson but I have a small problem.I have completely lost reverse from my control box and now I can not get the motor back to neutral without manually pushing the lever back. Consequently I am starting the boat in gear then throwing it into neutral by pushing a wire I have attached to the control arm to move it back the 2-3mm required to engage neutral. Any ideas on a more permanent fix. Thanks
 
Joe Reeves

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Disconnect the control cables from the engine temporarily. Now, with the engine idling, check to see if you can manually shift the engine properly via the engine's shift linkage. If you can, then obviously (assuming the cables are okay), you have a control box problem. If you cannot, then a lower unit problem exists.

Exactly what needs to be done depends on which problem you have.
 
B

brettogc

Cadet
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Messages
6
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Did this and I can not manually move the arm back into reverse. Would this point to a lower unit problem?
 
B

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

This may sound dumb, but do you have anything jammed in the upper shift linkage some where ?
 
Joe Reeves

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

brettogc said:
Did this and I can not manually move the arm back into reverse. Would this point to a lower unit problem?
Click to expand...

If you have disconnected the shift cable from the engine amd are trying to shift into gear, you must spin the propeller at the same time in order to have the shifter dog lobes align with the gear. Now, can you shift into both gears by manually using the engines shift linkage?
 
B

brettogc

Cadet
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Messages
6
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

boobie said:
This may sound dumb, but do you have anything jammed in the upper shift linkage some where ?
Click to expand...

Checkedthis out all seems clear, will post a couple of photos this afternoon
 
E

emdsapmgr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 9, 2005
Messages
11,551
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Any chance that you have replaced the water pump since you got the boat?
 
toddschubert

toddschubert

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
504
Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Sapmgr has a point if Lu has been worked on taking it off or reinstalling may have damaged or twisted the shift rod..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top