Re: Johnson shift linkage adjustment
The RDS-20 is a 1958 model, not 1957. I have one, too, and I love it. There is an adjustment for shift movement on the shift lever.<br /><br />Disconnect the cable. With the cowling off, look at the inner end of the shaft from the shift lever.<br /><br />There is an anchor screw there, at the top of a collar around the shift connector. Loosen it.<br /><br />Seat the lockout pin in the detent for neutral in the shift lock arm. <br /><br />Move the shift lever until it is vertical, then tighten the anchor screw to lock the position.<br /><br />Turning the prop clockwise, manually shift into forward and reverse, making sure the pin engages the detent. The shift lever should move about the same distance for both neutral and reverse. You can readjust, using the anchor screw, if needed to achieve this.<br /><br />Reconnect the cable and check to see that shifting is correct and that the pin engages the appropriate detent in forward, neutral, and reverse.<br /><br />Be sure to give the shift arm pivot a shot of grease.<br /><br />I hope that helps. The factory manual gies a good illustration of these steps.
