Manual Tilt Will Not Lock 40 HP Johnson In Place

[JRoach]

I have a 1989 Johnson Outboard Motor with a manual tilt on my Lowe 16' bassboat and the motor will not lock in place in any position. It is a 40 hp J40ELCEC motor. This presents a problem when I put the motor in reverse as the motor raises up and the prop tries to come out of the water. From the lock lever there is a cable that runs to the top of an actuator. I am not sure how it works. When I lift the motor or let it down there is still a dampening effect from the actuator. I am new to boating but can fix minor problems. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I have no maintenance/owners manual as I bought the boat used. Thank You....

 

[Daviet]

Re: Manual Tilt Will Not Lock 40 HP Johnson In Place

Gonna take a shot here. Look on the starboard side transom clamp for a lever, the lever is attached to an actuator that dampens the tilt of the engine, You should be able to turn the lever, front to rear, to control the actuator. All the way one way, the engine tilts easy, all the way the other way and the engine is locked in place. Look at #431962 on the site below.
http://www.ishopmarine.com/ishop/js...nown&isFrPG=false&forItemCode=&pCode=C0144504

 

[JRoach]

Re: Manual Tilt Will Not Lock 40 HP Johnson In Place

Captain, you have described the lever which does move front to rear. I think moving it all the way to the front is supposed to lock the engine in place and moving it back is supposed to release the engine. Problem is that it does not lock when moved to the front or rear and I am trying to figure out what needs to be replaced or adjusted. Could it be the entire actuator or just the cable from the lever? Do you know how it works internal to the acturator that makes it lock? Or, is there any kind of test/check I can perform? Tomorrow I may take a photo and attach. Thanks

 

[Daviet]

Re: Manual Tilt Will Not Lock 40 HP Johnson In Place

Does the lever have a pin or bolt through it that connects to the shaft that goes through the transom clamp? Is the cable moving the detent on the cylinder? I have access to one that I can look at tomorrow and check it out.

 

[JRoach]

Re: Manual Tilt Will Not Lock 40 HP Johnson In Place

Daviet, I raised the motor and got a good look at where the cable attached to the lever. It had old hard grease and even a long piece of string all over the cable and where it attached. I cleaned it up as good as I could with a little carberator cleaner and now it works fine. Its going to be nice not to have to have the motor all the way down when putting it in the water and also being able to lock the motor in place so the prop doesn't come out of the water. I would insert photo's but not sure how to do that. Thank You for all your help.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Manual Tilt Will Not Lock 40 HP Johnson In Place

Glad you figured it out, have fun.