1971 JOHNSON 100 ESL 100HP.

HELLO OUTTHERE .....I AM A ROOKIE TO THE OUTBOARD MOTOR WORLD .....I JUST BOUGHT A 1971 JOHNSON 100ESL OUTBOARD ....AFTER HOOKING THE CONTROLS UP ...THE THING STARTED RIGHT UP ....BUT IT SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN GEAR ..AND IM NOT SURE BUT I THINK FOWARD ....WHEN I GO TO PUT IT IN NUTERAL THE PROP NEVER STOPS AND WHEN I GO TO REVERSE IT BOGGS DOWN AND QUITS ....RUNS GREAT IN FOWARD ....THIS MOTOR HAD SAT FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT ...SO WHEN I GOT IT HOME I FOGGED THE CYL. REALLY WELL CLEANED THE CARBS OUT WITH CARB SPRAY I HAD READ IN HERE TO MAYBE TRY AND RUN A 50:1 GAS MIX IN THE LOWER UNIT TO CLEAN THINGS UP .....IS THAT A GOOG IDEA ????? MAYBE SOMETHING I HOOKED UP WRONG ON THE SHIFT CABLE ????? I REALLY DONT KNOW ?????? FROM WHAT I SEE THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR OUTBOARD GURUS ....ANY IDEAS GUYS ...ALSO ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO BEFORE THIS THING HITS THE WATER .......

Re: 1971 JOHNSON 100 ESL 100HP.

First check the oil in the gearcase. There should be no water and the oil should look - - well like oil. Make sure that you use new gaskets for the vent & drain screws.<br /><br />Next I would disconnect the shift cable at the engine. Then try shifting by hand. Then check the alignment of the shift cable.