Outboard Problem

[EUXINE_Rival]

I have a Johnson 4HP outboard for my tender which this year has the drive engaged all of the time. I presume that somewhere there is a simple clutch which engages when the lever on the side is moved. Does anybody know what might have jammed of failed.

 

[tross]

Normally there is a rod that gots from this lever, down the outboard leg and into the gearbox at the bottom of the leg. Typically, there is a join half way down in the tube that the joins the outboard to the mounting bracket or an inspection hole ( rubber bung) in the leg its self - have a look to see what has happened to this joint / rod

 

[William_H]

My Johnson 6 has a clamp join of the control rod into to the top of the gear box. This clamp is only accesed by taking 4 bolts out of the leg body and pulling it apart about 1cm. This is acheived by forcing the parts apart such that the gear lever will move to push the rod down while the gear box rod gets pulled up so the leg separates with the clamp stilla ttached. A screw driver or 3/8 socket can release the clamp bolt. The clamp is refitted by moving the gear lever to the position which pushes the rod down while pulling the rod out of the gear box the rod is juggled into it's clamp whiole at the same time getting the shaft into the power head splin and the cooling tube into it's rubber socket. It takes patience and a good torch. I usually do it with the power head down and leg sticking up.
Incidentally the shaft spline is removed from the power by turning the engine and shaft to a point where it disengages a little roll pin. Which has subsequently been lost. No great loss.
Now a 4HP is probably vastly different so this may no be a help. It is also quite likely that if it is similar the bolts holding the leg parts together are corroded such that the bolts snap off rather than release. (Try heat) If you put it back together with lots of grease and dismantle it often you can make them last for years. Mine is 23 years old. like me (I wish) good luck olewill

 

[EUXINE_Rival]

Thanks for the helpful sugestions. I took out a few bolts and found the problem. Its down the bottom end where the prop shaft is attached to the bevel gear by a heavy duty spring. The spring is a tight fit on the prop shaft and on the bevel gear. The rod from the gear control comes down through the leg and when in neutral engages with a sticking out bit on the spring, releasing the tension and allowing it all to turn. The sticking out bit is broken and this means replacing the spring. Anyone know where to get spares?

 

[VicS]

You have not told us the year or model number so any replies without knowldge of one or or other of these may not apply to your engine.

You will find exploded parts diagrams HERE. Although by no means a substitute for a workshop manual they can be very useful

A good place for advice on O/Bs is The iBoats forum where there are separate boards for different makes. If you ask there be sure to quote year or model no. (not serial number) preferably both as well as the HP.