Hello,<br />I'm new here and was hoping to get as much info about this motor as any of you feel you could take the time to share. <br />Specifically my problem lies with a 55 HP Johnson "Hydro Electric Drive" Model TRL-10R Serial # is C571543.<br />Last summer towards the end of the season the reverse gear had become intermittent. I lived with it and found that I could generally kick it in by toggleing the stick back and forth a few times. I put it in the water two days ago after just having changhed the gear oil. There was a small amount of water in the gear oil...less than a shot glass I'd say and I discovered that the reason for this was the oil change from the previous season; the threaded nipple on the oil container-pump unit had robbed the little rubber seal from it's base 
Mystery discovered and immediatley solved, I replaced oil and set the boat in the water. Reverse gear was again intermittent. It drove nicely in the forward direction however and I put it through the paces for about 40 mins. Next day? It finds reverse grear and that's where it's been since. I cannot even get it into neutral. The little toggle swith contained within the throttle unit by steering wheel seemed a long shot but I cut the wires back anyway and tested them...fine...the wiring harness in the motor compartment revealed some frazzled wear on three wires..two green wires which joined the same contact from the motor side and one red. I cut them back and rerouted them. I was feeling prematurley proud of myself because no dice...that sucker is stuck in reverse still.<br />Anyway...maybe some bells are going off with someone out there?<br />I have heard that the gears are somehow manuvered by magnets under voltage within the lower unit...as at least one gear seems stuck, might a big magnet held by hand against the lower unit prove a worthy attempt at rectifying the problem?<br /><br />I really don't want to buy a new motor as this one is a great rig if I can get the gears working.<br /><br />Any and all advice appreciated.
Mystery discovered and immediatley solved, I replaced oil and set the boat in the water. Reverse gear was again intermittent. It drove nicely in the forward direction however and I put it through the paces for about 40 mins. Next day? It finds reverse grear and that's where it's been since. I cannot even get it into neutral. The little toggle swith contained within the throttle unit by steering wheel seemed a long shot but I cut the wires back anyway and tested them...fine...the wiring harness in the motor compartment revealed some frazzled wear on three wires..two green wires which joined the same contact from the motor side and one red. I cut them back and rerouted them. I was feeling prematurley proud of myself because no dice...that sucker is stuck in reverse still.<br />Anyway...maybe some bells are going off with someone out there?<br />I have heard that the gears are somehow manuvered by magnets under voltage within the lower unit...as at least one gear seems stuck, might a big magnet held by hand against the lower unit prove a worthy attempt at rectifying the problem?<br /><br />I really don't want to buy a new motor as this one is a great rig if I can get the gears working.<br /><br />Any and all advice appreciated.