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Johnson 1979 55HP Shift Rod Alignment Question

jasondainter

jasondainter

Regular Contributor
Hi Folks.

I have a Johnson 55HP from 1980 (engine model 55EL80C).

I have a shift rod question I filmed in this video below (since it was a bit hard to explain in text/photos). Anyone know if I'm understanding the manual incorrectly here?

 
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Hoping to give this another go today. Anyone know what it means when the manual says:

’vertical shift rod top end must offset to port side of gearcase’

to me this doesnt make sense as if I connect it this way (as shown on the video then it wont even connect back to the shifter arm when it goes back on the motor (the hole wont line up).

Does anyone know exactly how to interpret this?
 
That model number is not listed in my guide... strange. Is that number actually listed on the port side transom bracket of that engine?

This is what comes up in my listing pertaining to the shift rod. No idea why it states "Manual Start".

1977 - 1981 - 50, 55hp Manual Start = (S) 16-23/32 - - (L) 21-23/32" plus/minus 1/32" Have the shift rod in neutral and the offset to the rear
 
Hi Joe.


Thanks for the reply here.


Yes that is the exact model: Engine was put together in Belgium. I did some digging on this recently and it seems Johnson changed the numbering system so some motors have this "funny" model. I believe this direclty translates to a E55RCLS. The parts manual I have for this matches exactly so I'm pretty fairly sure this is the same engine.


The Service Manual I am using is an original johnson one from 1980 also it covers:


50/55/60
E50ECS - E50ELCS
E55RCS - E55RLCS
E60ECS - E60ELCS


Pretty sure thats right also. (this one I took a photo of)


This is the page straight out that above service manual (here is a photo of it)


It says:


"The distance from the top of the gearcase to the center of the shift rod hole is 21-23/32" ± 1/32" (542-52 ± 0.79mm)" so this figure matches your figure on your (L) figure (long shaft I believe this means which I believe mine is).


but where it differs is my manual says:


"after adjustment vertical shift rod top end must offset to port side of gearcase".


It also states as you can see in the link above before doing this "Turn vertical shift rod clockwise until it seats in shifter detent. Then back out about three turns until top end offset faces port side."


Im really confused, if it is supposed to be port side then how is that even meant to work, if the offset points to the left (per the video I took) then it wont even aligned properly with the connecting arm when I reassemble it onto the motor.


Very confused!
 
Whats most confusing as you can see in the photo I took of the manual, where it shows the picture of the guy measuring the height, the offset doesnt seem to be port or starboard and I would say it looks like its pointing either forwards or backwards (though a bit hard to see in this photo).

I doubt something that important would be a typo.

Where to go from here?...
 
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Where do were go from here?? Indeed!... It does make one wonder.

I think I would got by the measurement I volunteered that coincides with what you have... BUT... having the offset turned to whatever is logical. Let us know how you make out.
 
Hi Joe

Thanks

joereeves said:
I think I would got by the measurement I volunteered that coincides with what you have...
Click to expand...

Do you mean for the height measurement? Per above I was saying the one in my original johnson book matches what you mention, so its the same.. 21-23/32" ± 1/32" (542-52 ± 0.79mm). So all seems to be fine there regarding the height itself.
joereeves said:
BUT... having the offset turned to whatever is logical.
Click to expand...

OK so at the moment this is my thinking..

- In your book it says point offset to back.
- In my johnson parts manual it shows the offset pointing to the back
- In the service manual though it says in text offset to port of gearcase, in the actual photo in that same manual it looks like its pointing to the back from what I can tell.

The only thing going against that advise is the text in the service manual.

So its 3 against 1 and I'm inclined to point the damn thing to the back!

But if anyone has any inights into why the text in the original manual for this engine states the offset should be to the port side of the gear place please do let me know!
 
I see in your manual where it states that the offset is to be to the port side of gearcase... strange, quite! Obviously there is no way one could attach the shift rod under those circumstances as it would be sideways!

I just checked my OMC factory service manual for the 1979 55hp model. And it states (Honest injun) that after the measurement is made "the offset slant is to face the driveshaft" (pointing back).

There are a few lower units (years/hp) that have numerous bends in it that might fall under that setup that exists in your manual... BUT... I think, as it stands, it would be best to have faith in my manual's write-up.
 
joereeves said:
Obviously there is no way one could attach the shift rod under those circumstances as it would be sideways!
Click to expand...

Exactly! Im certainly no expert but just couldnt wrap my head around how a sideways bending offset would fit and re-connect when it goes back onto the main engine. Makes 0 sense!

Whats weirder is that it actually in the text refers to the image, which you see also in my manual and that image doenst show it to the side at all. Talk about contradictory.

The only thing I could think is if this term "top end must offset" as stated in my manual could refer to something different to what we're explaining here (and perhaps could mean the same thing, eg point it backwards!). Who knows.

I agree I think pointing to the back is the logical thing to do here.
 
OK so the plot thickened here. Story of my life...

I went to proceed per above, and set up a ruler measurement (using a metal rule and a drill bit taped to it) that accurately enough showed 542.52.

The hole is *way* off. I mean, if you actually turn the rod out so far that it comes out, it doesnt even come close to the position its supposed to be in (its many centimeters off). Even using up the whole ± 0.79mm buffer for error. I'm positioning the metal ruler as its supposed to be per manual on the very top surface of the lower unit housing (not the shift rod housing etc).

So I started scratching my head again on why this could be, obviously this measurement does not seem to be correct.

Then I realised you mentioned Joe that on your reading this was for a manual start, then I noticed the reading I had also specificallt refers to manual (rope) start. Not electric, like my engine, seen in image below.

I have no idea why this manual that seems to cover my engine shows electric engines for 50, and 60hp but for 55 refers to all the specs for a manual start.

I can only assume that this measurement is wrong and for a manual start engine.

so what to do!

I could:

1) Try to hunt down the correct measurement for a Johnson 55Hp 1979 (though think it sometimes counts as a 1980 model) electric start with model number 55EL80C I'm skeptical I can even find that figure, possibly because the engine was made in Belgium as part of the OMC sister company over there.

or

2) I could try and "wing" this by somehow aligning the rod another way. I can see down the driveshaft hole pretty well, and I can see and feel when I turn the rod then push or pull it to reverse/neautral that its changing those distances. I can make it pretty even so that reverse pushes about the same as forwards does, but not sure if thats advisable (I can probably guess the answer to that is no!).

Anyone have any help on this?

I'd really love to get the boat back in the water before the sun totally dissapears but since this was the whole reason for me taking it apart I want to be sure on that distance before I put it all back together.

A2n4vRq.jpg
 
Jason.... Taken from my manual... 1979 55hp Evinrude, Electric Start model..................

Gearcase in In "Neutral".

Adjust to 15.906 +/- .030" (Std Shaft)

Adjust to 20.906 +/- .030" (Long Shaft)

After adjustment, slant on shift rod must face driveshaft.

NOTE: These measurements pertain to using the special tool to measure the shaft... not a measuring tape or yard stick, but so far I haven't come across the definite measurement that might state the actual accurate measurement from the top surface of the lower unit to the center of the shift rod hole... but I'm looking.

Hope this is of some use to you. I have no idea what .906 is but I have a feeling you do. Let us know if this helps.

********************
EDIT: This is what the info in my database states about the 1975 to 1985 55hp models that makes no mention of the special tool:

1975 - 1978 - 50, 55, 60hp Electric Start = (S) 15-29/32" - - (L) 20-29/32" plus/minus 1/32" Have shift rod in neutral.

1977 - 1981 - 50, 55hp Manual Start = (S) 16-23/32 - - (L) 21-23/32" plus/minus 1/32" Have the shift rod in neutral and the offset to the rear

1982 - 1985 - 40, 50, 60hp = (S) 15-29/32" - - (L) 20-29/32" plus/minus 1/32" Have the shift rod in neutral and offset to the rear.
********************
I'm assuming that the .906 is the same as 29/32" ??

I'd also assume that the correct measurement would be 20-29/32" for your 55hp as it states that in not so many words from 1975 to 1985. I don't know why your engine would be an exception.
 
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BINGO!

Thank you so much! That helps tremendously!

It also confirms what Scalhou506 said in an earlier post, he checked the CLYMER manual and got

long shaft , 1975-1981, 1985-on 20 29/32 +/- 1/32
Click to expand...

and says in Clymer the metric conversion there was listed as:

531mm +/- 0.8mm
Click to expand...

So when I type into google:

Convert 20.906" into mm it tells me:

531mm

So this looks pretty likely to be the right figure!

I tested it out just now and that fits fine and wih the slant on rod facing driveshaft is lines up perfectly with my makeshift DIY ruler/drillbit device!

Thanks so much you saved me a whole lot of hours on google!
 
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Out of interest Joe also do you have a link to an image (or could take one?) of the cover of that OMC manual you got your figure from? I now seriously distrust my own manual so think I'll try and pick up a copy of whatever one you have for future issues like this.
 
Thanks Joe for the clarification.

Yeah 0.906 is I believe the decimal based way of writing 29/32 so

20 29/32"
and
20.906"

are the same thing.

In an earlier post here Scalhoun506 mentions taken from his Clymer manual:

that is to mean 20 inches and twenty nine / thirty seconds of an inch plus or minus one thirty second of an inch, that is from the top of the gear case to the middle of the hole in shift rod
Click to expand...

So it looks pretty likely this measurement (20 29/32") is the right one to go for between the top surface and lower unit and the hole of the offset on top of shift rod.

But if you find anything different let me know!

Thanks a lot this has been super helpful.



 
if its any help with my mysterious engine number, I saw a guy on another forum saying 55EL80C models were normally 55EL79C in other countries (mine is in Sweden but seems to be manufactured in Belgium).

At least that engine model comes up on marine engine i think its basically the same.
 
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