Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

[Pake]

My 1983 Johnson 115 HP O.B. motor is working fine, the propeller doesn't spin though. I am wondering whether I blew a shear pin (assuming it has one). I throttled a touch too much near shore and think I might have hit something. How can I get to this? I removed all the bolts around the lower end but it isn't dropping. I figured I'd ask here before moving on.

Advice? Links? Videos?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Big Bubba]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Pake,
Before you go dropping the lower leg unit I would check to make sure your Prop hasn't spun on you. Basically what I am saying is the prop has a rubber bushing around the spline part if it is an aluminum prop. Check that first and I bet that is what your problem is. Take care and let us know, Bob

 

[Pake]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Well, without any schematics, are you referring to what looks like a plastic washer with teeth which goes on the end? If so, it appears fine.

 

[Big Bubba]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

No, on the prop itself, look through the hole that slides on the prop shaft of the motor. Basically whenever the prop hits something that prop is designed to slip on the rubber bushing that holds the female center spline or the center hub. So my question to you is it not spinning in the water or is it not spinning on land on the trailer with it in gear? If it only does this in the water then the load of the water is keeping it from spinning causing the prop to slip on it hub. I wish I had a picture but hopefully that is all it is. If the prop is slipping and the prop is in good shape a propeller shop should be able to replace the rubber bushing for you cheap without having to buy a brand new prop. Let us know. Bob

 

[Pake]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Ok, I'm pretty much done tinkering today. I will check tomorrow and get back to you. I also have the original prop. The prop. currently on wouldn't spin in the water so I'm curious to see what happens on the trailer.

So, if it's the prop. (which would be great) they would remove the rubber "O" ring in the back to repair it?

SEATOW: Don't leave land without it

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Advice? Links? Videos?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

do you have a manual yet? the comment about just pulling bolts kind of scares me. Get and read a manual. Mine has pictures of what a spun prop looks like.

 

[Big Bubba]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

If it is the prop rubber bushing then it will spin just fine on the trailer, because there is no water back pressure holding it back, but in the water a different story. What you can do is take a water proof sharpie/marker and mark a line from the spline opening across the back of the hub on that prop and take her for a spin and if it is bad as you say the lines will not line up once you take the boat out of the water. If they don't line up then that prop rubber bushing is the problem and needs to be replaced because it has spun. This bushing is pressed in with a special machine because it is pressed in. Let us know, Bob

 

[Pake]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Not to worry Shizzy, I have a mind like a steel trap!

Now, where did that bolt go? Agh, probably don't need it anyways!

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Here is what there talking about:

 

[Big Bubba]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Yes, exactly what Big9000 is showing. The rubber bushing in there is probably worn out and has slipped so the prop is just hub inside the prop is just free wheeling.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

maybe put it in gear out of the water (engine off) and go spin the prop. see if its just freely spins without resistance, or if its locked.

That might narrow down something.

I would imagine that you would have to hit something pretty darn hard to break something in the lower unit. How does the prop look? bent/broken leg?

 

[Pake]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

The prop looks fine that's why I really don't think I hit something. The motor did sit while we rebuilt the boat, which took about 6-8 months. We had to fix a fuel leak (hoses) so I wonder whether sitting around did something. I do have the original prop. Can I test it in a trash barrel filled with water, or would that just splash water around? I hope to check this out tomorrow night. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mas]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

If the prop is just slipping, you'll throw a lot of water around which could damage your water pump impeller. If it's really slipping, you should be able to put it in gear and see if it spins by hand...engine not running of course!

Test it by hand...if good..test it with the boat in the water. If it still isn't working in the water, try your old prop which is presumably good. If the old one is not working as well, that points to LU or shift linkage issues.

MAS

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Can I test it in a trash barrel filled with water,.

That would big one BIG trash barrel.

I cant find a bucket large enough to fit that massive lower unit in...

 

[5150abf]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Engine off, put it in gear, turn the fly wheel by hand, the prop turns yes or no.

If the prop won't turn out of the water you have a serious problem, even a spun hub will move the boat to some degree and will absolutely turn out of water.

I would watch running the engine until you figure out what exactly is wrong, if the engine is running all the gears are turning, if you blew something out and start the engine you are grinding up peices of metal in your lower.

 

[Pake]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

With both props on and motor in gear, either forward or reverse I can spin the prop. I did notice that when I drained the lower end fluid (which was just put in) it is a milky yellowish (like honey mustard sauce) color. I put more fluid in and noticed that when I went to put in the lower screw, water came out, before turning to fluid. When I spin the prop it sounds like gears turning (I don't know how to explain that). Not a crunching sound more of a not lubricated sound.


When I get home tonight I'l hook-up the ear muffs and run the motor. What should I look for?

 

[Pake]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

By the way, would I be able to clamp the shaft (without damaging threads)end with prop on and try to spin prop to see if that's the problem?

 

[junior1113]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

you probably need to see about fixing the seals in the gear case you might stumble upon your problem when you get it open.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

could have snapped the drive shaft, connecting the lower to the powerhead.

EDIT:

Wait, what the hell am I talking about- if your props fine, there is no way in hell you broke a shaft. I bet you simply broke a cable. And your motor has been in neutral this whole time.

Im going to go take pics, brb.

EDIT 2:

Ok, with engine in N (neutral) this is how your cables look:

Move the engine into Forward gear:

And your cables look like this:

Now Reverse:

And cables:

So, Notice the bottom/back one moving? Go check to make sure yours is too.

I just spent 5-7 minutes going out there, taking pics, uploading, and typing. So humor me and go check even if you don't think that is the problem

PS: we have the same motor

 

[5150abf]

Re: Johnson Outboard Lower End Help Needed!!!!

Concur, make sure the shifter on the motor is actually putting it in gear,if it is in gear and you can spin the prop freely you either blew out the pinion gear or snapped the drive shaft or prop shaft either way something had a catastophic failure.

You will need to pull the lower to see if it is the shaft is broke, if not you will have to rebuild the lower or get another one.