90hp johnson lower unit

[thos]

I have a 1991 johnson 90hp. While doing some maintenance on the engine, I noticed that when the engine is in gear (but the motor is not running) I can turn the prop by hand about 1/4 revolution before it stops. Is this normal, or are the gears just wearing?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 90hp johnson lower unit

Absolutely normal. Internally, there is a fair bit of distance between the lugs on the clutch dog and the lugs on the gears. These lugs are what engage the propshaft to the gears and produce forward or reverse motion. This distance between the mating surfaces of the lugs appears, externally, as you described...
- Scott