Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

[andrewbabich]

Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

Its a 1972 Johnson 50 HP hydroelectric shift.

I opened up the shifter and it appears the metal wire of the shift cable can move forward and back in the plastic sleeve/ tube linkage that is part of the shifter.

I think this explains why my shifter was getting stuck in the forward position. When it would get stuck in forward I would pull the choke up and that would free up the shifter and allow it to go back to neutral.

After a lot of playing with it and spraying wd 40 into the shifter (maybe I should'nt have done that) it now appears the shift cable is not being grabbed tight enough by the shift lever. Do you use some kind of set screw clamp or adhesive on the wire to keep it from moving in the grip of the shifter?

 

[F_R]

Re: Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

Its a 1972 Johnson 50 HP hydroelectric shift.

I opened up the shifter and it appears the metal wire of the shift cable can move forward and back in the plastic sleeve/ tube linkage that is part of the shifter.

I think this explains why my shifter was getting stuck in the forward position. When it would get stuck in forward I would pull the choke up and that would free up the shifter and allow it to go back to neutral.

After a lot of playing with it and spraying wd 40 into the shifter (maybe I should'nt have done that) it now appears the shift cable is not being grabbed tight enough by the shift lever. Do you use some kind of set screw clamp or adhesive on the wire to keep it from moving in the grip of the shifter?

A Hydro Electric doesn't have a shift cable. The throttle cable is held by two setscrews in the plastic guide. With the wire flush with the end of the guide, tighten one setscrew till it touches the wire, then turn it another half turn. The other setscrew should be backed well off when you do that. After the first one is tightened +1/2 turn, then tighten the second one down tight against the first one.

 

[mikep1220]

Re: Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

i have a similar problem only my motor will not come out of first gear. im goin to bypass the shiftswitch today to see if thats the problem. if that isnt it i dont know what it could be

 

[andrewbabich]

Re: Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

Thats awesome guidance. Thanks so much. I know exactly where the end of the guide is because last night when I was finagling with it the wire surprised me and shot more than 1/4 of an inch into my thumb when it poked out of the hole.

I did not notice the set screws I'll look tonight.

 

[andrewbabich]

Re: Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

What is the right type of grease to put in the races that the shifter pin travels in? Mine has some thick dryed up yellow stuff in there.

 

[F_R]

Re: Hows the shift cable connected to the shift lever mechanism?

What is the right type of grease to put in the races that the shifter pin travels in? Mine has some thick dryed up yellow stuff in there.

Waterproof marine lubricant. Any brand, BRP, Mercury, Yamaha, etc.