(1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

[chris414]

I just recently put the lower unit back in after replacing the impeller and cleaning out pump housing. Now when i throttle back in reverse, the propeller will not go in reverse. Does the trottle have to be all the way back for it to go into reverse? Is there an easy way to check out of water?
Also, i was messing with the wiring (a mistake on my part) in the control center box and saw a wire that was not attached to a terminal in the ignition solenoid or modulator (don't really know the name). I can't remember if it was gray or purple, but now i can't get the motor to shut off when I turn the key off. I know one of he purple wires goes to the tach. I have a wiring diagram, but it's confusing as to what is suppose to be hooked up or not.
I would appreciate any input or advice on these issues.

 

[iwombat]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

Just going from memory here - But, purple is power and grey is tach I think.

Did you mess with your cables at all while your LU was off? Sounds like a shift cable adjustment problem.

 

[chris414]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

I did remember seeing a gray one in there, but don't know why motor won't shut off when i turn key in off position. I will get a second pair of eyes to look at the wiring diagram. Mybe they will see something that i didn't catch.

I did mess with the top shift cable. I took it off of the mount and bracket to make room for my hand to fit down under the carb to get the bolt loose in order to disconnect the shift rod. Did i mess something up?

I appreciate the feedback on this challenge.

 

[iwombat]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

So, here's what you do.

Disconnect shift cable from linkage.
Put motor and remote control box in neutral position.
Put cable in holding bracket, and adjust cable end until it lines up with the linkage on the motor. Attach cable.

That should line it all up correctly.

 

[chris414]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

I will sure try that. It never crossed my mind to even attempt that. I appreciate your help.

 

[Walker]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

If you didn't turn the trunion on the shift cable while you were messing with it then the only other possibility I can think of is you turned the shift rod in or out a couple of turns or more.

 

[chris414]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

Thanks for the helpful tips to troubleshoot with. You will have to excuse me, but i really don't know what a trunion is. I know there is a knob that is on the shift cable. I might of have turned that knob by accident a couple of times. But, other then that, I don't know of anything else that i did wrong. I also think that i might have turned that bolt (a the top of the shift shaft) a couple of rotations. I did that only to line the shift arm bracket up with the shift shaft (for reconnection of arm to shift shaft). I will try and troubleshoot that right away so my reverse will engage.

 

[iwombat]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

You just described the trunion. (aka threaded knob on the cable)

 

[ezeke]

Re: (1977) 85 HP Johnson...Put lower unit back in and have no reverse.

You will need to turn the swivel at the top of the shift rod down until it gently seats, and then turn it back one or two turns, stopping when the rounded side faces away from the driveshaft. Then check the shifting manually with the cable disconnected.

Once you have the shift working smoothly, put the gearcase in neutral, move the throttle arm all the way forward, then back to neutral. Adjust the shift cable to the position of the shift arm and reconnect.