Lower unit going?

[krosemond]

On my 1978 Johnson 150, when I shift into forward, a get a tapping sound (like sticking a spoon into a slow moving fan) before it engages. It doesn't do it when shifting into reverse. Is my lower unit going, or do I just need to adjust the linkage? It is an old Morse throttle. one click into gear, 2 clicks back into neutral.<br />What are the signs to look for in a lower unit that is getting ready to go, and when it goes, does it just freeze up?<br /><br />Thanks for your advice.

 

[JB]

Re: Lower unit going?

Hi, krosemond. Is that one of those electric shift systems I have heard and read such terrible things about? I have no experience with them except (and partially because) I have been warned to stay away from them. Clearly it isn't going into forward gear and the ends of the teeth on the gears are hitting but not engaging. Find and adjust the linkage that shifts it into forward. Just hope it isn't a bad solenoid.<br /><br />Good Luck.<br />JB

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Lower unit going?

If it's a 78 it should be a mechanical shift. Everything from 73 on was. I'm a little confused about the one click in and two clicks out.<br />If this grinding noise going into gear is something new it could be nothing more than a streched cable. Check or change your gear oil with the CORRECT lube and examine the magnet on the drain plug. Small ammounts of metal is normal. If the magnet is completely covered and the oil is full of metal, it's time for a teardown. Good luck!

 

[krosemond]

Re: Lower unit going?

It is mechanical. The clicks are actually in the Morse(brand) throttle, it clicks once going into gear (at the shift lever) and then coming back down it clicks once, stays in gear at idle and then one more click disengages the gear. Mostly likely designed to keep you from missing neutral and going into reverse too fast. So will it die quickly leaving stranded far from shore, or are there major warning signs of an impending breakdown? Just don't know outboards, all my water time is with the engine in the bilge.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Lower unit going?

I see what you mean. The shift detents. Anyway I would check the gear oil before using it any further. Yes it's possible it will leave you stranded. It may only need parts now but it could get worse.

 

[JB]

Re: Lower unit going?

Hey, krosemond. Sorry about the misleading stuff on the electric shift. Even though you feel (hear) the grinding in the controller it is probably being fed back from the lower end. Dhadley's suggestion about checking the gearcase oil is better than my original. By the way, Dhadley, thanks for putting me straight about the electric shift period. I still think forward is failing to engage due to cable stretch or linkage slip.<br /><br />Good luck.<br />JB

 

[krosemond]

Re: Lower unit going?

Thanks for the tips. I adjusted the cable and now I just get a little crunch when I put it in gear. I did it on the trailer with the ear muffs so I don't know what is normal, I have never put in gear off the water. It is a lot better than when I did it a few days ago. I will check and change the gear oil anyway. I was hoping to pull it down to the coast this weekend. I changed the gear oil before spending a week in the keys a couple of weeks ago, so if there is metal, it just got there. At what point should I get nervous? Is a little metal acceptable after about 50 hours of operation?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Lower unit going?

After you adjusted the trunion toward forward if you get the grinding going into reverse then it's the cable. I agree with J B, I think it's cable strech. A thought -- did it do it before you changed the lube? What lube did you use?

 

[Dunk]

Re: Lower unit going?

K, what your hearing is the clutch dog sliding against your forward gear before it engages. I have feeling to are easing it into gear to slowly. This is a common mistake people make. You should shift it quickly. Every time you hear the racheting sound you are knocking steel off the clutch dog. The more the edges get rounded the less they want to grab the forward gear. That engine should not be idling more than 700-750 in neutral. Any more than that increases clutch dog wear.