How bad could the lower be?

[headdamage]

I just had a look at a 35hp 1980 Johnson short shaft tiller motor today. Listed as in great shape all good to go. I brought my engine stand and muffs to check it out. Started and ran great, put it in forward not problem, tried to put in reverse and no good, no mater what I and the owner tried it would not go into reverse. Had a look at the prop and the shaft can wiggle around a bit and the prop has almost half a rotation of slack in it when in forward gear. Checked the lower oil and it smelled bad, was dark and full of sparkles, after wiping the oil off of my fingers they where covered in little silver flakes of metal. Any chance that this lower is repairable or is it likely a complete write off?

 

[Haffiman]

Re: How bad could the lower be?

Everything, almost, is repairable, the question is the cost. In this case you will not know until after tearing it apart.

 

[Wall eye]

Re: How bad could the lower be?

I had a simalar issue with my 1980 50hp Johnson, turned out to be the Thrust bearing.

 

[5150abf]

Re: How bad could the lower be?

All the little metal flakes used to be a part so somehting is going out in it for sure you could get lucky and it is a bearing or clutch dog or it could be a gear, for the right price, i.e very cheap, it could be worth it, if the power head part is good you cna alway get a new lower of Ebay for a decent price but yes it is at some stage of failing.

If it won't go into reverse it could be as easy as an adjustment and the flakes are bits of the clutch dog but as Haffiman said you won't know till you break it open.

Lower unit oil always stinks and it being dark is actually good, that means it is still sealed and no water is getting in, for the right price I would take a chance and run it till it breaks then get a used lower.