4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

[jimmitycricket]

I just bought a clean 4HP Johnson at a local yard sale, got it home runs like a champ, but it is stuck in Forward and starts in Fwd, I am trying to determine the year of this o/b motor. Plate is clear as day says Model J4RDHETB the D could be a 0 , the serial # B09008068 and under that tag says BELGIUM ... motor is white, gray in the cowl with 4.0 in red.

Any info would be helpful? Thanks

 

[jimmitycricket]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

I think I found the year 4RDHE should 1990 according to a google search I just did? No any known problems with the 1990 4HP Forward shifting on these o/b's ??

 

[Daviet]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

According to what I found it is a 1993. Do you feel any detents when you shift the shifter, how is the oil in the lower unit?

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

Does the shifter handle move real easy like theres nothing there or does it feel like its getting hung up?"

 

[jimmitycricket]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

Ok, I dropped the lower unit today, the shifter shaft is frozen in the lower unit. The fluids were a tint white, assuming a seal is leaking. Wondering if the 2 bolts holding the bracket behind the prop hold the lower unit seal? if so how hard is it to change the lower unit seal? Thanks for any advice?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

I think if it were me, I would change the lower unit oil and make sure I used new seal washers on the screws, run it and recheck the lower unit oil after I ran it for awhile.
Did you figure out how to correct the shift shaft?

 

[jimmitycricket]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

I was thinking of removing the Gear Head behind the prop slide out the guts and see what it looks like, hoping maybe the shift rod frees' up if not maybe I can see a broken part. I seen in a diagram the Gear Head part number wondering if the seal is in that, do i need to change the whole gear head or is there a seal in that I can just change? worse case senior I use the motor in forward & change the lower unit oil every few times out. (I would like to correct the frozen shaft - do it the right way)

 

[Daviet]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

See the post below, #2 is the propshaft seal.
http://www.ishopmarine.com/ishop/js...CatFilter=BRP&eCatSupFldr=supplier-100-005-EJ

 

[jimmitycricket]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

I just ordered the seal, cost $30 with shipping. Tomorrow I will remove the shaft and see if the shift rod free's up?

 

[Rick.]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

The shift is a nice feature. I think your wise to try to fix that. My 1971 starts in forward and is always in forward gear. Many times I've thought how nice it would be to shift to neutral rather than shut it down. I would strongly suggest you put a new impeller into it right away. Then you know it's been done recently. Do also order the seal washers Daviet mentioned above. They may well be the only seal problem you have. Get some extras and replace them each time you pull one of the screws. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[jimmitycricket]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

LOL - I removed the Gear Head and the first set of gears, 2 ball bearings rolled out not a good sign. The pinion gear is holding in the shaft - I was trying to see the cam gear or shift gear. No luck I maybe over my head looks like the pinion gear and bearings are pressed in from a machine shop or HD tool.

Anyone know of a shop, I can ship this lower unit and get a rebuild at fair price? motor is a 93, and I don't want to dump a small fortune in to her?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 4HP Johnson Need Year 7 shift Problem

Take a look at the parts breakdown again, I think the ball bearings you are talking about are drive balls, #33. The shift cam is in the very front. Where are you located?