Topic: 1956 Johnson 35HP not going into gear – Antique Outboard Motor Club,Inc

This topic has 12 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by garry-in-michigan.

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July 9, 2017 at 12:00 am #7587
harpua
Participant
took about 3 hours of work to get it started, had it running for 15-20 minutes straight and it moved into every gear like butter. I dump the boat in the water, put some throttle/load on it until about 1/4 throttle and it starts skipping every so slightly, so i take it out of gear.

then, nothing, no forward or reverse. i was told it was completely redone and winterized, though i dont believe the winterize part. Why?

here is me getting towed back to the dock-

thanks
July 9, 2017 at 12:58 am #61232
outbdnut2
Participant
US Member
Did you try disconnecting the shift cable from the motor and using the shift handle on the starboard side of the motor? Maybe your remote cable broke, or a set screw anchoring one end came loose. If the shift handle moves and it doesn’t shift – look to see if the screw on the side of the lower gearcase half near the bottom (right at the top of the skeg) came out – that will cause it not to shift – it’s a special screw with a pin machined on the end- you need the correct part. Also check your gearshift linkage – is it connected to the shift handle inside the motor and moving with the handle? On the side of the exhaust housing above the lower gearcase assembly there is a removable piece of metal that’s about one inch by 2 inches with a screw top and bottom. Remove this and you will see the shift rod move as you move the handle – behind this inspection cover is a connector that joins the upper and lower pieces of the shift rod together – be sure one of the two bolts haven’t come out of this connector. This connector gets undone to remove the lower unit to for servicing.
Dave
July 9, 2017 at 1:15 am #61236
harpua
Participant
i didnt try to disconnect it, but that was how i put it into gear when i had it running in a tub. its exactly the same engine as the gale i am working on so i will take pictures of the gale and try and see a difference.

the gearshift linkage. yes, it worked initially, then stopped., i went to the back of the boat and moved the shifter to see if it was the controls in front, but the boat is wooden and it was its first day in the water and would swell very good so i had to stay in the bow for the tow.

this screw, same as on a 59 gale? i will go check the screw, if it is, is the lower end contaminated now?
July 9, 2017 at 1:23 am #61239
outbdnut2
Participant
US Member
Yes that screw is same on most 1950s johnson/Evinrude/gales 30 and 35 HP, and also up to mid 1960s 28/33/35/40 HP. There should be a sealer washer under the screw. You have to shine a flashlight in the hole and move the shift rod up and down until you align the hole in the linkage the pin has to go in. Sometimes filing a bevel (not a long point) on the end of the screw’s pin end will help you orient it in the linkage. The shift linkage pivots on this pin to move the clutch dog in and out of the gears. You can look up an exploded view at marine engine .com
Dave
July 9, 2017 at 4:12 am #61251
Mumbles
Participant
If the shift lever has been removed or loosened, it’s really important for the star washer to be reinstalled between the shift lever and the lug on the shift shaft to prevent it from slipping. It’s a little tricky to do but it can be done.

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July 9, 2017 at 11:49 am #61262
harpua
Participant
thank you i will check that next time i am near the boat also and think it may be a reason it can instantly stop working.

thinking about the gearlinkage last night and how that works. can that pin or screw by the skeg break off in there? is that what drives or locks the power to the lower end, basically? i will go a read this post and some others.
July 9, 2017 at 12:17 pm #61265
garry-in-michigan
Participant
Lifetime Member
Impossible to break off if properly tightened. It goes into a socket on the far side of the skeg. The major problem is people who think it is a drain for the gear case. P.S. – the 1956 model was 30 horse Power, the 35 was built in 1957. The gear cases were different. . . 🙄
1956
July 9, 2017 at 1:59 pm #61280
harpua
Participant
yes. i know that problem well, having many 9.9’s around and seeing peoples mistakes. is there a common reason why these motors would just cease going into gear? i dont have lots of resources where the boat is right now, would like to be as thorough as i can when i inspect. thanks Gary
July 9, 2017 at 2:22 pm #61282
frankr
Participant
US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK
quote outbdnut2:

Did you try disconnecting the shift cable from the motor and using the shift handle on the starboard side of the motor? Maybe your remote cable broke, or a set screw anchoring one end came loose. If the shift handle moves and it doesn’t shift – look to see if the screw on the side of the lower gearcase half near the bottom (right at the top of the skeg) came out – that will cause it not to shift – it’s a special screw with a pin machined on the end- you need the correct part. Also check your gearshift linkage – is it connected to the shift handle inside the motor and moving with the handle? On the side of the exhaust housing above the lower gearcase assembly there is a removable piece of metal that’s about one inch by 2 inches with a screw top and bottom. Remove this and you will see the shift rod move as you move the handle – behind this inspection cover is a connector that joins the upper and lower pieces of the shift rod together – be sure one of the two bolts haven’t come out of this connector. This connector gets undone to remove the lower unit to for servicing.
Dave

A very common problem–especially on a motor that has just been worked on. When installing that screw in the connector, you should use a flashlight to peer in there and make sure the notch in the shift rod is perfectly aligned with the screw hole. If not aligned, it will wipe the threads off the screw and it will fall out 5 miles offshore. It also often ruins the threads in the connector.
July 9, 2017 at 3:37 pm #61290
harpua
Participant
quote FrankR:

quote outbdnut2:

Did you try disconnecting the shift cable from the motor and using the shift handle on the starboard side of the motor? Maybe your remote cable broke, or a set screw anchoring one end came loose. If the shift handle moves and it doesn’t shift – look to see if the screw on the side of the lower gearcase half near the bottom (right at the top of the skeg) came out – that will cause it not to shift – it’s a special screw with a pin machined on the end- you need the correct part. Also check your gearshift linkage – is it connected to the shift handle inside the motor and moving with the handle? On the side of the exhaust housing above the lower gearcase assembly there is a removable piece of metal that’s about one inch by 2 inches with a screw top and bottom. Remove this and you will see the shift rod move as you move the handle – behind this inspection cover is a connector that joins the upper and lower pieces of the shift rod together – be sure one of the two bolts haven’t come out of this connector. This connector gets undone to remove the lower unit to for servicing.
Dave

A very common problem–especially on a motor that has just been worked on. When installing that screw in the connector, you should use a flashlight to peer in there and make sure the notch in the shift rod is perfectly aligned with the screw hole. If not aligned, it will wipe the threads off the screw and it will fall out 5 miles offshore. It also often ruins the threads in the connector.

this is sounding like my symptom and i cant wait to check it out. thank you.
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