Another rookie mistake, how bad did I mess up?

[goalie805]

So I finally got the water pump straightened out on my motor, but in the process of doing so I messed something up. I have a 2003 Johnson (model J25TESTR) which has the shift disconnect behind the plastic screens on he lower unit. (I had never done a pump on this motor before) Problem number one is; I am pretty sure I accidently shifted the motor while the lower unit was off. So, now I start up the motor, and it was going in reverse (I believe) when I shifted forward. And it wouldn't shift in reverse at all. So basically I put the lower unit on in the wrong gear. Problem number 2; When attaching/removing the lower unit I screwed the bottom part of the shift rod (bolt) into the upper part (nut). I didn't know this was an issue but while trying to find an answer to problem one online I read that moving the bottom part can mess up the linkage on some motors. (not sure if mine is one) So I am humbling myself once again for some wisdom. How bad is this and can I fix it without paying $80 an hour at the boat shop? Thanks in advance guys

 

[racerone]

First of all it does NOT matter what gear it is in when you take it apart !!------Second , it does not matter if it gets shifted while it is apart !!----------Take it apart again and screw the lower shift rod fully into the lower unit.-----Then when you re-assemble make sure you do NOT turn the lower shift rod !!

 

[wwatson621]

Sorry to jump on your thread, but I just took down the lower unit on my 1996 Johnson 130 V4 and replaced the water pump housing, impeller etc and I know I turned the shift rod while working on it and cleaning it. racerone, thanks for the guidance above, but can you be a little more specific. I did not remove the cover plate from the lower shift rod assembly when I worked on the impeller so what are you saying needs to be screwed down on the lower unit and then reassembled? I turned the shift rod maybe a 1/4 turn and then reset it when I finished cleaning it. Feel like a newbie asking, but in reality that's what I am to boat motor repair. I am getting ready to reassemble the lower unit tonight and want to make sure I don't screw it up.

 

[racerone]

????-----The V-4 shift rod set-up is totally different , not even close to that of a 2 cylinder 25 HP.-----You need to set the shift rod height on your V-4.----------Find the dimension using ----Google -----johnson shift rod height----- gets you that dimension !!