97 Johnson 175 Shift problem - The Hull Truth

whaler23 · 05-28-2008, 04:08 PM

First launch this season and port engine grinded into forward, had to advance throttle quickly for a snap in engagement. Disconnected shift linkage and manually shifted it into fwd and reverse, worked fine. Adjusted shift linkage at the motor, retightened everything and it all worked fine.

Took off on the water and after about a minute or two on plane the engine began to surge, then quickly followed by a clacking noise, gear sounding from before. Pulled down to idle, clacking continued even in neutral. Shut off engine and went back to slip on other engine. Any ideas, waiting on mechanic to show up at boat tomorrow. Clutch dog? Linkage adjustment again?

A1 Outboard · 05-29-2008, 05:40 AM

When you shifted by hand with the cable disconnected, how much free play was there is neutral? Was the engine shift lever parallel with the crankcase split line when the free play was centered in neutral? IF someone ever forced the shiftlever into gear with the motor not running, the stamped steel shift lever on the motor could distort and mess up the shift linkage travel.

Clacking in neutral is a bad sign. By draining the gear oil you will see if anything larger than normal fuzz on the magnetic drain plug determines that there is internal gearcase damage.