Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

[brettogc]

Hi all, I have recently picked this little ski boat up with I think about a mid '70s 135 Johnson but I have a small problem.I have completely lost reverse from my control box and now I can not get the motor back to neutral without manually pushing the lever back. Consequently I am starting the boat in gear then throwing it into neutral by pushing a wire I have attached to the control arm to move it back the 2-3mm required to engage neutral. Any ideas on a more permanent fix. Thanks

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Disconnect the control cables from the engine temporarily. Now, with the engine idling, check to see if you can manually shift the engine properly via the engine's shift linkage. If you can, then obviously (assuming the cables are okay), you have a control box problem. If you cannot, then a lower unit problem exists.

Exactly what needs to be done depends on which problem you have.

 

[brettogc]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Did this and I can not manually move the arm back into reverse. Would this point to a lower unit problem?

 

[boobie]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

This may sound dumb, but do you have anything jammed in the upper shift linkage some where ?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Did this and I can not manually move the arm back into reverse. Would this point to a lower unit problem?

If you have disconnected the shift cable from the engine amd are trying to shift into gear, you must spin the propeller at the same time in order to have the shifter dog lobes align with the gear. Now, can you shift into both gears by manually using the engines shift linkage?

 

[brettogc]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

This may sound dumb, but do you have anything jammed in the upper shift linkage some where ?

Checkedthis out all seems clear, will post a couple of photos this afternoon

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Any chance that you have replaced the water pump since you got the boat?

 

[toddschubert]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Sapmgr has a point if Lu has been worked on taking it off or reinstalling may have damaged or twisted the shift rod..

 

[brettogc]

Re: Lost Reverse Gear on 135hp Johnson

Any chance that you have replaced the water pump since you got the boat?

Haven't replaced the pump seemed to be feeding ok