Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

[Rdye]

I have had similar problems before and posted about it but I have a new problem. When I have the motor running on the muffs and I shift to reverse sometimes it will engage and sometimes it doesn't. I can shift it by hand on the motor but i have to pull it all the way to one side. I started with adjusting the cable while in neutral but it would not engage in reverse at all. I then slowly adjusted the cable all the way until I was out of threads on the adjuster. Now sometimes it will and sometimes it wont engage while on the muffs. While I'm on the lake It will never shift into reverse. It will only rev up and I can feel it grinding in the control, Also while going in forward sometimes it feels like it jumps out of gear for just a second. It almost sounds and feels like I hit something in the water but I haven't. Does this sound like a worn clutch dog or something else? I have the service manual and am pretty handy, so If someone can kinda point me in the right direction I would appreciate it very much.

BTW the motor is a 1976 Johnson 115hp v4

Thanks
Robby

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Any Ideas?

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

sounds like you need a sync-n-link done. basically its just a procedure that synchronizes all of the linkages. its a common service item so im sure you can find a procedure for it online somewhere.

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

i thought that had something to do with your carbs and timing? Am i missing something?

 

[DJ]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

NEVER shift an outboard running on the "muffs". Not only dangerous but bad for the gear mechanisms.

1. ENGINE OFF Look at your linkage as someone advances the gear/throttle handle. It should be obvious to what is happening inside the cowl.

2. You may have cables that are stretched or close to the breaking point.

#1 will tell you.

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

i thought that had something to do with your carbs and timing? Am i missing something?

yeah, all the linkages, the shifter/throttle are all connected.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Verify that it's getting enough motion at the shift linkage. Your manual should have a spec for min and max cable throw, if you're not getting that then the problem could be either with the cable or control box, if you've got enough throw then the problem could be the clutch dog.

 

[DJ]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Verify that it's getting enough motion at the shift linkage. Your manual should have a spec for min and max cable throw, if you're not getting that then the problem could be either with the cable or control box, if you've got enough throw then the problem could be the clutch dog.

My vote:

Bad cables or poorly adjusted shift linkage (cable stretch).

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

looking through the manual i can't find anything about min max cable trow specs.

Should I start with new cables and go from there?

 

[DJ]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

looking through the manual i can't find anything about min max cable trow specs.

Should I start with new cables and go from there?

Nope:

Where does your control box throw the cables? Full reverse, etc?

Look at what is happening ENGINE OFF when someone goes through the shift throttle sequence.

What is happening, at the the engine end, when the control box goes from full forward to full reverse?

Don't spend money you do not have to.

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

ok i had someone go through the gears while i turned the prop by hand. It was not completely catching in reverse, but was fine in neutral and forward. I adjusted the cable a bit and now it is catching all the gears like it is supposed to. Problem is this is how it was working before I took it to the lake last time. Only when i was in the water it wouldnt engage in reverse.

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

I did noticed however that there is quite a bit of play in the cable. Ill try to explain. The trunion nut screws on a threaded rod which runs into a plastic sleeve and that sleeve bolts on to the shifter at the motor. The threaded rod will move in and out of that plastic sleeve a good 1/4 inch. Is this normal or does that sound like a worn cable?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

I was going to quote the shifter throw specs from my OMC manual, but I just realized something....

BTW the motor is a 1976 Johnson 115hp v4

That's the hydraulic assisted shifter. I've never worked on one of those, and the specs from my manual will do you no good. Maybe somebody that's got some experience with those can jump in.

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Yeah I hope someone can help. If these tennessee storms dont raise the lake too much Im gonna take it out this sunday and try it out again

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

You basically have to first figure out if the problem is in the gearcase or cable/shifter. You mentioned you have 1/4 inch of play in the cable, that might be a bit much. I had to install all new cables when I rebuilt my boat last year, I didn't actually measure how much play was in my shifter cable but I don't recall there being that much. I'll take a look at it tonight so you can get a comparison.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

OK, my shift cable end only has about 1/16" of play. It's basically brand new, boats only been out a few times since the rebuild.

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Hey thanks for checking on that for me! I might even have a little more than 1/4 inch, so that may be my problem. I am taking out to the lake sunday and Ill do a little tweaking on the adjustment to see if i can get it to work. My neighbor came over and looked at it and we fired it up on the muffs and he said my idle was too high ( I dont have a tach) so I was thinking that if It is idling to high then maybe the motor is spinning to fast and maybe that is what is keeping it grinding when i try to go into reverse. Does this sound plausible?

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

what do yall think?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Does this sound plausible?

Not really. For one thing an engine is going to idle faster on muffs than it is when in the water.

DJ is going to come looking for me for admitting this, but I have been known to shift both my engines a time or two while running on muffs to make sure they were shifting properly (I make dam good and sure the water hose isn't near the prop and that nobody is standing near the engine). They both slide into gear nice and smooth just like normal.

If it shifts ok moving the shift linkage by hand with the cable disconnected I'd be inclined to believe the problem is either the cable or shifter.

 

[Rdye]

Re: Reverse not engaging Johnson 115

Yes it shifts fine from the motor with the linkage disconnected but it has to be pushed all the way back to engage reverse. Forward on the other hand does not have to be pushed all the way before it engages in forward is that normal?