1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

[Mikermason]

I had my lower unit replaced and in the process I believe my shift rod was misadjusted because I could not get it into reverse unless I disconnected control cable and manually moved the shift lever. I have searched around for the correct height (I think 21 1/4) but when I dropped the lower to make the adjustment the lowest I could rotate the rod down was to 21 1/2 and even that seems to be short when I tried to re-install the lower unit. Does anyone know if 21 1/4 is the correct measurement for a 92 Johnson 40 I believe long shaft?

 

[boobie]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Try the top secret files at the beginning of this forum, They have shift rod adjustments in there.

 

[racerone]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

The chart clearly states that it should be 21 - 15/16"----Measured in nuetral and measured from the center of the pin hole to the joint gearcase to exhaust housing.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Ok, thank you. I looked in the secret files and i guess i missed it because i could only find the heights for older models thru 81'. but thank you again for your help. this might be an obvious answer, but i am new to working on outboards... Once i adjust the rod height and reinstall the lower unit what is the best method to get the rod hole to align to the linkage if there is a height difference?

 

[racerone]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

?????-----You disconnect the cable at the motor.------Move the lever on the motor to line up the hole for the screw to go in.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

thanks, thats what i thought just wanted to verify.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Ok well I set the shift rod height and replaced the control cables with no luck. I went all the way through the adjustments on the shift cable and I still can't seem to get the cable to push the lever back far enough to catch reverse. When I do have the cable adjust far enough back I can get reverse but then I can't get neutral or forward. Please help I thought for sure that it was the rod height :-/

 

[boobie]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Sounds like some worn shift linkage or something in the lower unit.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Sounds like some worn shift linkage or something in the lower unit.

It is a new lower unit, but that is when this problem started when the replacement LU was installed. Anything particular I can look at with the shift linkage or with the lower?

LU was replaced after prop hit a rock and it busted up my lower.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

well i gave in and took it to an outboard mechanic... I will post the results when I hear back from them.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Keep us posted...........

 

[boobie]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Was this a brand new gear case or new to you or a rebuilt ??

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

I had a guy down here "mobile mechanic" find it for me and install it. He kept saying it was brand new but i am pretty sure my $650 got me a rebuilt one. Well I took it to superior outboard down here in south miami yesterday and they said there is a problem with the lower unit. The only thing he could tell me is the rod is really hard to get into the reverse position and the throw for reverse is longer than the throw for forward. At that point I called jesse the mobile mechanic and let him know what was going on and he said that part is warrantied so is going to come by on thursday to take a look at it but he doesn't think it is the lower unit...

 

[racerone]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

This gets interesting--------Keep the forum informed please.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

well mobile mechanic came by today... he made an adjustment to the shift rod and played around with the cables a little bit... He was able to get it to manually shift into reverse neutral and forward as I have already. He said there is too much play in the cables, which are brand new. so he is now saying that its my control box. From my inspection and understanding there is no adjustment in the box so is it possible that replacing the control box could take some of the play out of the shift travel? let me know your opinions before I go out looking for a new control box.

 

[racerone]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Does your mechanic have a spare control box to test ?-------You would just have to hook up the Shift cable and stand beside the motor.----Observe how it works compared to the box installed in the boat.--Don't forget to turn the prop if shifting with the motor not running.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

No, he doesn't have one to test and I can't find a side mount (right side of center console) to save my life. he was turning it from the power head while shifting.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

Funny this all started when you put the new gear case on.

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

well yeah after I hit a rock with my prop...

 

[Mikermason]

Re: 1992 johnson 40 J40ELENM Shift rod height adjustment

he keeps telling me that the gear case is good because we can manually shift to all gears