'93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

[blue90]

When I tried to go in reverse the engine (or something) sounded like gears grinding and would not go backwords. Forward fine otherwise but lost reverse. <br /><br />Has someone had this experience and let me kow what might be the problem?

 

[v12mac]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

Have you had the lower unit off recently? or the water pump serviced? <br /><br />The other road to start down is if the shift cables are old and beging to strech. Are you fimaliar with how your motor shifts in and out of gear?<br /><br />Has the boat sat unused for a long period?<br /><br /><br />Mac<br /><br />P.S. Not a mechanic but I just picked up a PHD in JohnyRude gearcases this winter. (The hard way)

 

[blue90]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

1) water pump was replaced two month's ago. little use since. <br />2) not familiar with how the boat shifts out of gear. no real experience on mech. of any kind.

 

[blue90]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

Originally posted by v12mac:<br /> Have you had the lower unit off recently? or the water pump serviced? <br /><br />The other road to start down is if the shift cables are old and beging to strech. Are you fimaliar with how your motor shifts in and out of gear?<br /><br />Has the boat sat unused for a long period?<br /><br /><br />Mac<br /><br />P.S. Not a mechanic but I just picked up a PHD in JohnyRude gearcases this winter. (The hard way)

 

[blue90]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

thanks for the reply Mac...couldn't sleep too well...<br />RJ

 

[seahorse5]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

There is a critical adjustment of the shift rod length that should have been checked when the gearcase was removed for the water pump replacement. If the shift rod turned when the gearcase was removed or installed, the adjustment is out of whack and could affect the gear shifting. <br /><br />Have a QUALIFIED person check the shift linkage for slop and for correct adustment. Each time you "grind" going into reverse, you are removing metal from the gear and the clutch dog, and they are expensive to replace.

 

[v12mac]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

Hey don’t loose too much sleep over these old Johnsons. Any idiot can go finance a new motor the fun part is keeping an old one on the water.<br /><br />It is a kooky system but it works. The “Shift Rod” Runs down from the motor to the gear case ( The bulbous area in front of your prop) This rod actually has a length adjustment via screwing in or out of the gear case about 1”. What happens is during a water pump swap. Your mechanic has to disconnect this rod from the linkage up at the bottom of the motor. To remove the Lower Unit or Gear case and expose the water pump. Once disconnected the rod can get spun right or left causing small changes in the shift rod length as it screws in or out. Some times when reinstalling the lower unit it gets bumped too.<br /><br />The other way shift linkage gets goofed up is after the lower unit is reinstalled, the process of reconnecting this rod is a bit tricky I always have to disconnect my shift cable to get the rod to connect back to the linkage. There is another adjustment here that can get out of whack. There is a black plastic circular disc on the ends of the control cables that allow some adjustment. (But your symptoms point more toward your shift rod) <br /><br />Seahorse is right on about tearing up the gears. Give your mechanic a call let him know that the motor is not shifting correctly since the water pump service. He should be able to get you back up and running in no time. While your there have him change the gear oil and look for any shavings indicative of gear wear. <br /><br />Mac

 

[blue90]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

Thanks Mack and Seahorse!!<br /><br />RJ

 

[blue90]

Re: '93 Johnson 90 HP- no reverse

You guys were RIGHT ON IT...<br /><br />Got the adjustments done at no cost, back and running great...<br /><br />Thanks for the online support!!<br /><br />Ric