Help W/50 hp 1975 johnson

[queen cobra]

Hi, we are newbies, to the boating scene . my husband bought a 1973 15ft. newman, that has a 1975-50hp johnson seahorse outboard. after having it almost two years in and out of shops .I need your help to see if the prop on this has to be replaced totally or can I buy or replace the parts in the middle of it. because He's spent more with shops than for the boat itself. and we've only just three weeks ago had it in the water, and couldn't get it to go in reverse. it goes in gear but won't back up. it does good forward, and the prop , turns in both forward and reverse. he says when he puts in reverse gear the prop can be turned like its slipping. THANXS

 

[steelespike]

Re: Help W/50 hp 1975 johnson

Welcome,
Speaking generically the parts inside the motor may be assembled wrong or adjusted wrong.The shiftcables may be bad or need adjusting.
Unhook the shift cable at the motor and see if it shifts by hand and moves in reverse.
It sounds like It is only going into forward or neutral.Hopefully its not something major in the gearcase.
The experts should be along with more details.