1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

[lexkyboater]

I replaced the output shaft seal and the water pump, and reattached the lower unit twice, but still won't stay in forward. Neutral and reverse are fine. I also tried adjusting the shift adjuster under the engine cowling, in the front, and even when I adjust it all the way, all it does it move the position into which it goes into forward, but the behavior is still the same - it always kicks out of forward in short order. I tried starting it in forward gear, but kicks out then too.

When I'm reattaching lower unit, it is in forward, so the lower shift rod is in the upmost position. I suspect I'm not getting the lower shift rod up far enough into the connector that connects the lower shift rod and upper shift rod? Maybe I need to open up the bolt that's on the connector so that the end of the lower shift rod goes up in there further? Seems that when I try to shift it into forward, the shift rod notch in the bottom of the lower unit is not going all the way up like it should and locking it into gear. I thought I might get some expert advise from you guys before disassembling a third time. TIA, Steve

 

[gejandsons]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

Try reassembly in reverse gear.

 

[lexkyboater]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

In reverse the lower shift rod isn't high enough to get into the connector attached to the upper shift rod. Manual says it should be in forward. Am I supposed to switch to reverse on reassembly?

 

[gejandsons]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

After reassembly does the shifter handle land in the same place that it did prior to doing the repair work. If not then, I concur, your not getting the lower shift rod up far enough into the connector that connects the lower shift rod to the upper shift rod.

 

[lexkyboater]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

Seems that the lever is about the same from what I remember, but it's been a while. What's odd is that even after adjustment, the forward shift lever position won't go any further down. The shift lever seems it has a set range of movement, but I can change the start and end location with the shift lever adjustment.

Seems that it's just not notching into place when trying forward. Maybe that connector between upper and lower shift rod hits some housing in the adaptor plate and if the lower shift rod is just not far enough into the connector, it just won't be pulled high enough to notch? Theories, theories. I'll try checking further tonight... TIA, Steve

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

The screw has to be removed from the shift shaft coupler in order to capture the beveled part of the shaft on reassembly. You have most likely captured the shaft, but not enough of it. See this picture:

 

[gejandsons]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

One thing you can be sure of is, when you figure it out, You'll say "How did I not see that?" Good luck

 

[lexkyboater]

Re: 1971 Johnson 9.5 won't stay in forward gear

Well, that's probably the problem. I didn't take the screw out - I only loosened it because that's all I had to do to get the lower shift rod out. I wondered about that, and had planned to do that tonight, but you've just confirmed it. Thanks for the pic, and sounds like you've solved my problem. THANKS! --Steve