Johnson 4hp water in gearcase, can't get the shifter o ring in!

warpedrotor · May 17, 2016

I have a J4RESR, when I bought it used, I noticed that the gear was oil was milky. In an attempt to be prudent, I took the gear case apart and changed all the o rings and seals in it. I also replaced the water pump. The problem came up when I noticed a tiny o ring had come out of the top of gear case on the shifter shaft. A new one came with the kit but there was no way I could get it to go down in the case and into the little groove it sits in. I gave up and put it back together without it. And voila, I still have water getting in. Anyone else have this issue?

lindy46 · May 17, 2016

There is a bushing that holds the o-ring in place. You have to remove the bushing to replace the o-ring. There is a tool to knock it out, or you can thread it and screw a bolt into it to pull it out. If you destroy the bushing, a new one is about $17.