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8HP Johnson shifting problem

gamecocks

New member
Hey guys,

Im trying to help a friend get his duck boat up and running again. The problem is with his 8HP Johnson (not sure of year, i can get serial number or anything you need). The motor will not go into forward and it feels like it slips in reverse. We were riding down the lake and hit a stump fairly hard, it still worked long enough to get to the boat ramp where it decided to not move. I have taken the propeller shaft out and inspected everything, taken the foot off and inspected everything (found nothing wrong), greased all the grease fittings and it still will not work.
Here is what I have realized.

In Neutral: the prop spins freely
In Forward: the prop spins freely but then has a "snag", while it is in that "snag" it spins the crank
In Reverse: the prop has tension all the way through and spins the crank.

I figure is it an issue with the middle rod in the foot (drive rod?) everything seems good on the lower end.

How do I get up in the rest of the motor (where that rod runs) to see whats going on?
Can anybody help me out with this?

Thanks for your time
 
We need a model # on this.-------Some of these motors had traditional clutch dogs in the lower unit.--Then for a number of years they used 4 balls to do the shifting.--Then they went back to the traditional clutch dog.
 
That would be an 88 model.---It has the 4 drive balls.------Are the splines on the ends of the driveshaft ok ?-----I would take the lower unit completely apart and see what is wrong.---Perhaps the forward balls are sheared off ?
 
If your talking about the 4 ball bearings behind the prop (hub?) they are all fine. I didnt see anything with the drive shaft splines but will look again. I do recall seeing the gears work with the prop off, the middle gear functioned when you clicked into f-n-r
 
Sorry.-----The gears ALL TURN whenever you turn the drive shaft!-----There are 2 seperate balls that come out of the propshaft to engage forward gear when it is selected.-There are 2 balls that engage reverse when it is selected.-------Now this is if it has the original lower unit.--The other type with the traditional clutch dog will fit on this motor as a replacement.----Take a look at the parts blow up on top of this page.Big red letters and a few clicks is all it takes.
 
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