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~1990 25hp Johnson Stuck in Forward

G

gannet586

New member
I'm getting started resurrecting an old 25hp Johnson that's been sitting for 30 years. It doesn't look too bad under the hood, but there's decent corrosion here and there. The engine has compression, I was able to pull the cord and get a few turns out of it. Legend has it was running fine when put away.

I'm sure I'll run into more issues as I get going, but for now, my issue is this. I was moving the shift lever back and forth from N to R to F and greasing it a bit, and it did that fine a few times, until it went into forward and now won't move back to N. I haven't touched the lower unit oil or anything yet, I'm wondering if there's some stuck linkage down there. Was I being stupid by moving the shift lever back and forth without the engine running? I don't have much experience with this sort of motor, maybe I'm just missing something simple. Just looking for some help to get headed in the right direction.


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Motor must be running , or prop must be turned when shifting.----So remove water intake screens.----Observe movement of shift rod in there.
 
Thanks @racerone. I had a feeling..

I pulled off the water intake screens, I can see the long nut in there, and when I move the shift knob, I can see maybe a millimeter of movement in that rod up / down, but that's it. Thoughts based on that info?
 
Check the wee black plastic keepers at that coupling.----But you may have to remove the powerhead to see linkages on the upper shift rod as well.---May not be easy on a salty motor.
 
Would an off kilter keeper in that coupling prevent the shift lever from moving? Hopefully I don't have to take off the powerhead. When you say check the linkages, what would I be looking for? (what do you think might have happened by shifting the motor without it running?) Thanks again for the advice.
 
Well----Maybe you found the reason it has been sitting for 30 years.-----Be an easy fix here , but I can not touch your motor.-----It is easy to see what is wrong with mechanical shift linkages.----Not so much with electrical components.
 
Might as well remove the lower unit.----If it sat for 30 years it needs a new water pump impeller before you launch the boat.
 
The simple fix wins for now - I got it to shift into neutral by turning the prop while trying to move the shift knob. Learned my lesson on shifting a motor w/out it running.. Now off to the inevitable next repair :)
 
Shifting from forward to neutral you do NOT have to turn the prop.-----Shifting from reverse to neutral you do NOT have to turn the prop.-----Shifting into either gear you have to turn the prop!-----Throttle must be at idle to clear shift interlock.----Learn how to operate this motor as it will save you many beer tokens.
 
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