70 horse johnson lower unit

[rolmops]

Hello guys.
This evening I was trying to drop the lower unit on a 1979 long shaft 70 horse Johnson.I disconnected the shift rod next to the engine and took out the 4 bolts on the side ,the one bolt toward the rear and the bolt that sits under the trim tab.Everything seems to be loose but it does only go down a little and stops although it seems quite free.It looks like it hangs up on the the shift rod.Is there a trick having to do with the shift rod that I am unaware of?
thanks for your help.

 

[DJ]

Re: 70 horse johnson lower unit

rolmops,

Are you SURE that the shift shaft is now completely free?

Sometimes the driveshafts get hung up in the crankshaft due to corrosion.

If the shift shaft is indeed free, keep working it up and down.

 

[EJ3]

Re: 70 horse johnson lower unit

make sure you take the bolt all the way out of the shift rod where it connects under teh carbs. It should drop after that!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 70 horse johnson lower unit

Yep - the shift rod connection isn't on the side of the motor - it's under the bottom carburetor. There's a small bolt, running horizontally. I believe access is from starter motor side...
- Scott

 

[rolmops]

Re: 70 horse johnson lower unit

Scott,
Before disconnecting the shift rod I took the carburetors off,and the shift rod was disconnected at the right place from the start.That is not where the problem is.
Later today I will raise the engine to eye level and go over it to find out if it is an improvised repair problem I'm dealing with.

 

[rolmops]

Re: 70 horse johnson lower unit

OK,problem solved.
I cursed it too while jerking it around.After having spoken some soft words about scrapheap and the like it just loosened up and came down.Very fast I may add.It is good that I wear steel toes......
I think that it got hung up on the grommet in the lower cowling.