1986 Johnson lower unit removal

[santiva]

How do I disconnect the shift rod to remove the lower unit. I see a jam screw at the powerhead where the linkage meets the rod but that seems the wrng way to disconnect the shift rod from the gearcase<br /><br />I lost the drive last time out, There is some ground up rubber in the lube, Is this possibly a simple coupling failure??

 

[petryshyn]

Re: 1986 Johnson lower unit removal

Check the horizontal shaft(under carb) for a spring pin at the opposite end. Pull the pin out and the whole shaft slides to the port side releasing the shift shaft which remains with the LU.<br />Rubber in the gear lube is interesting......maybe the last one to open her up left an O-ring behind.......?<br /> Ground up rubber inside the prop hub would explain everything. Spun prop hub > ground up rubber > no drive

 

[almost retired again]

Re: 1986 Johnson lower unit removal

Hi Stan,<br />I think that you've found the right place. The earlier models a screw type pin under the bottom carb. (with me wearing bi-focals I could never get in focus to really see it)this made it hard for me to get lined up. The newer ones had a pin on the shift linkage that was engaged, or disengaged by pushing or pulling on the shift linkage rod.<br />Have fun

 

[santiva]

Re: 1986 Johnson lower unit removal

Thanx for the replies<br />It is the screw type, ended up taking off the air intake housing and the fuel pump and with the right combinations of sockets and extentions I loosened the screw, I don't look forward to replacing it !!<br /><br />ends up that the drive snapped at the bearing just below the water pump<br />Now searching for a used shaft, new are about $500 and getting to be rare

 

[reddog23]

Re: 1986 Johnson lower unit removal

An all to common failure mode. It happened on my 225 86 johnson. Do not replace it with a single drive shaft.Upgrade to the two piece drive shaft to prevent another failure. The two piece shafts a easy to find.<br /><br />Reddog