1996 johnson 50 horse no reverse when down

[patrickj]

My FIL has a 96 johnson 50hp. Last time out 2 years ago reverse quit on us. So it sat until today we cleaned it up, fired it up. Reverse engages perfectly when the motor is lifted to its highest like for trailering. When you let it down to the lowered position the prop free spins. Already unhooked shift cable at motor and shifted by hand with no change. Any help would be great, he is dying to go get on some crappie

 

[Brabbtiger22]

I hate to say it , but if you already disconnected and it still didn't go into gear when forced that way then it's likely in the foot where your problem lies. When you have it hooked up in the hard with the hose does it make a difference then? And when spinning in gear forward do you hear anything banging around in the foot. Listen for any loose metal.

 

[Brabbtiger22]

Yard**

 

[patrickj]

No noises at all on muffs. I know it's likely a lower unit issue just wondering if someone can tell me what to expect when I get in there. I'm sure it's either the clutch dog or reverse gear. Just strange that it works at full tilt but not at no tilt

 

[jakedaawg]

Did the Phillips head screw get removed by mistake when trying to change gear oil? It does not simply screw back in.

why not just tear it down and take a look? It's not rocket science. An inexperienced guy could have it apart in a couple, three hours and then know what you are up against.

 

[patrickj]

What Phillip's head screw are you referring to? Elaborate on that for me

 

[jakedaawg]

Starboard side of gear case, forward of intake screen just above bullet.

 

[jakedaawg]

I'll post a pic in a minnow

 

[jakedaawg]

 

[patrickj]

Lord I sure hope he didnt... I'll verify with him tonight it he pulled that, I know he had changed fluid before last time we used it. What will that cause?

 

[patrickj]

Ok I just hung up the phone with him, he filled it through that port... so can someone walk me through what's next, can I realign that shifter fork

 

[jakedaawg]

Yep, some times, if your really luck, with a needle like pick, and some judicious shaking , you can get everything to line back up. The key here is the screw goes in through the yoke, it is the actuator that moves the clutch dog that does the shifting.

look at a parts blow up, study it. Try, try again, try 20 times. Then take it all apart. The take apart method for a rookie is probably 4 hours including removing and reinstalling the lower.