1975 85HP Shifting Trouble

[HPbaseball33]

I've got a 1975 85 HP Johnson that runs great, but now I am having a problem with the throttle. It is VERY difficult to get in and out of neutral but once out of neutral it is easy to go forward. The biggest problem is that it WILL NOT go into reverse. Anybody have any ideas??

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1975 85HP Shifting Trouble

What do you mean when it's out of neutral it will go into forward easily? It's either in neutral or in gear. The motor can't be out of neutral and not in gear.

 

[HPbaseball33]

Re: 1975 85HP Shifting Trouble

I mean that when I shift into gear it moves easily but it is very hard to go back into neutral and will not go into reverse at all.

 

[boat_poor]

Re: 1975 85HP Shifting Trouble

I had the same problem with a 1973 85hp and it was the control box . I took it apart and found that it had alot of old grease and build up in it . I cleaned it out and put a small amount of grease on the parts that move . Worked well after that . You may want to check the shift cable and see if it has any open spots in it . If it has rust showing you will need to replace the cables .