DiveLiberty
Well-known member
Well, I've had a string of bad luck on outboards.
I purchased a 1978 Johnson 35 hp motor last month. It starts up great and shifted well on the muffs. However, when I took it out on the lake, it slips out of gear at about 15 mph or so. It feels like I'm hitting a stump. I believe the issue to be a clutch dog. It seems like that was a real issue with this model of lower unit.
After doing some research, I'm not quite confident enough to get in to the lower unit to change the clutch dog. The bearing housing pull intimidates me a bit and I'm most worried about getting everything back together. Additionally, it looks like a new gear set runs about $300. My thought is, at that price it would be easier and not too much more money to find a used lower unit. BUT, I've scoured the interwebs and haven't found a single compatible lower unit.
Three questions:
1. Honestly, how difficult is it to get into the lu and change the clutch dog? I'm decently mechanically inclined, and don't mind doing most of my own work.
2. Does anybody happen to have a working LU for this motor sitting around?
3. Does anybody have a secret source for used LU's that I haven't found?
Thanks guys!
I purchased a 1978 Johnson 35 hp motor last month. It starts up great and shifted well on the muffs. However, when I took it out on the lake, it slips out of gear at about 15 mph or so. It feels like I'm hitting a stump. I believe the issue to be a clutch dog. It seems like that was a real issue with this model of lower unit.
After doing some research, I'm not quite confident enough to get in to the lower unit to change the clutch dog. The bearing housing pull intimidates me a bit and I'm most worried about getting everything back together. Additionally, it looks like a new gear set runs about $300. My thought is, at that price it would be easier and not too much more money to find a used lower unit. BUT, I've scoured the interwebs and haven't found a single compatible lower unit.
Three questions:
1. Honestly, how difficult is it to get into the lu and change the clutch dog? I'm decently mechanically inclined, and don't mind doing most of my own work.
2. Does anybody happen to have a working LU for this motor sitting around?
3. Does anybody have a secret source for used LU's that I haven't found?
Thanks guys!