15 hp Johnson won't shift

[tunrevir]

I got a 15 hp Johnson and it will not shift into neutral or reverse. I took the lower unit off and the linkage is intact to the powerhead so it must be in the lower unit. Any ideas on how to repair or the cost involved in taking the lower unit apart to find the problem? Shifted fine last fall when I stored it but now it won't shift out of foreward even though the shifter moves to neutral and reverse just fine. When I dropped the lower unit to check the impeller condition I noticed there was a slight bend in the shifter bar right where you loosen the screw/nut that holds things in place. Could this be the issue? Anyone got any ideas?

Tunrevir~

[boatfixer]

Did you take it apart and then it wouldn't shift?

[tunrevir]

No, It would not shift prior to taking it apart. It was like it was seized up not the normal three positions of neutral, reverse or foreward. I took the six bolts out and dropped the lower unit and then removed the top bolt on the shift rod to fully remove the lower unit. I checked the inmpeller housing and impeller and reassembled it. I can get the shift lever to click into the three different positions but the prop never disengages and is stuck in forward.

Tunrevir~

[boatfixer]

What year?

Did you drain and refill with lube last fall?

By clicking in 3 positions, did you try this with the lower unit removed?

[Surface Tension]

You might as well remove the lower unit again.

Then shift through the gears by pushing and pulling the shift rod.

If it still isn't shifting out of forward its time to take the gear case apart.

Have a look at #5 (clutch dog) in the figure.

Your problem is probably somewhere there or a missing pin between it and the shift rod Because there could be a part that came loose I'd not run the outboard. You might want to have the gear case resealed while its apart.

Has the outboard popped out of forward when running?

[eurolarva]

Too bad you did not know this last fall. This is peak season and it is tough to get it done. I had Twin City outboard do it over the winter a few years back and they charged me $200. There is a small screw that can be removed by mistake when filling the lower unit. Removing this screw removes the shift pin and will make the motor stick in a certain direction. The part is only a couple of bucks but requires the lower unit to be taken a apart. It is not real hard if you are good with tools. You will need a manual( can probably sign one out of a major library for free and you will need a seal kit.

[boatfixer]

That's why I wanted to know if the lube was changed last year. 99% of the time it's not necessary to tear it down to reposition it. I was hoping to get a little more info to see if we can avoid him having to tear it down or have it sit in a shop for 2 weeks waiting to be looked at.

I find it odd that it was fine last fall and out of the blue it quit working.

[Gus]

Since you didn't mention it, don't over look the simple. Throttle position. Our 15 won't shift unless the throttle is low enough.

Re-reading it sounds like it clicks but the gears don't disengage, probably not a throttle position the more I think about it. But, I'll leave this post go in case it helps someone else down the road.

[tunrevir]

Boatfixer, The motor worked last fall and was stored inside all winter. Occasionally, when it was shifted into reverse it would spring back to neutral. This is an older 15 horse, say 1986. Frank, that schematic is what I have been looking for thanks you. Motor was not torn down last year. The shifter felt stiff this spring but after wiggling the shift lever back and forth for awhile it seemed to loosen up and shift to all 3 positions. Throttle position was at shift Gus, but thanks for the input.

Tunrevir~