96 Johnson Venum 200 Lower Unit

[chill2971]

I was changing lower unit oil, and found small amounts of metal on the two magnetized drain plugs. What is an excessive amount of metal? I also noticed that when it is full of oil and I spin the prop it does not sound smooth, but has a slight gear sound to it. It is a Johnson 200 venom. Could the lower unit be going out,or gone? <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Posts

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 96 Johnson Venum 200 Lower Unit

Chill..... Fuzzy metal particles on those magnet screws is normal, and is the reason those magnets are there. However, metal particles that are big enough to be rolled, felt easily with your fingers such as grains of hard sand, or splinter like pieces of metal are not! Small chunks or splinter like pieces of metal would indicate a problem.<br /><br />The clicking (if that's what you hear) that you describe as "a gear sound", could be that the shift linkage is slightly out of adjustment, which would allow the shifter dog lobes to lightly touch the gear lobes.

 

[chill2971]

Re: 96 Johnson Venum 200 Lower Unit

Joe, thank you! The metal pieces on the magnets where more like glitter, that would dissapear when I rubbed my finger toghether. There where no hard chunks, or slivers of metal.<br /><br />As far as the shift linkage, how hard is that to adjust?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 96 Johnson Venum 200 Lower Unit

Chill..... You asked "As far as the shift linkage, how hard is that to adjust?"<br /><br />The shift cable at the engine end will have a slight bit of play in it when one pulls/pushes the end of it. The shift linkage arm at the engine also will portray a slight bit of play.<br /><br />The perfect setting would be to have the engine shift linkage arm play split (centered). Disconnect the shift cable from that arm to do so.<br /><br />Then loosen the clamp that retains the shift cable trunion so that you can turn/adjust it.<br /><br />Center the cable play so that it lines up with where it attaches to the engine shift linkage arm.<br /><br />That should give you a perfect neutral position and gear engagement. However, you may have to adjust that trunion slightly one way or the other (it happens).