Thread: 1988 25 hp johnson water pump change gone wrong

Assuming that the unit shifted properly before you disassembled it to work on the water pump all it can be is that you reassembled it incorrectly. With this one you have to be sure that the plastic ferrule is seated correctly in the recess on the shift linkage before tightening the retaining nut. Once you do this and tighten all the bolts that hold the gear housing to the leg activate the shift lever at the engine to check for proper engagement of both forward and reverse. You may have to slightly turn the prop to get it to drop in one or the other, but it should easily go in either F or R on its own. If you have a long shaft engine be sure that you reinstalled the long plastic spacer, too. I always try to keep the shifter in N when reassembling, but you may have to move it some in order to thread the coupling nut back over the ferrule-just put it back in N before tightening the bolts.

Another thought on this is that you may have put the ferrule on upside down. This could cause it to slip on the linkage which might cause the shifting problem. Once you are sure everything has been put back together correctly there is also the option of adjusting the shift linkage, but if it was working correctly before the initial disassembly this should not be necessary. When I referred to "being in neutral" in the first post that means both the shift lever and the gear case. You can put the gears in neutral by pulling/pushing the shift linkage that is exposed while disassembled-check this by turning the prop. If it does not turn freely it is in gear.

Thanks, I bought two ferrules today and solved the shifter problem. Can't get the black plastic shaft sleeve in without cracking it though. Back to the marina tomorrow.

Yeah, you do have to be careful with that, too. If it is like mine the bottom is no problem, but the top has to be "fitted" where it goes up into the leg. Just be careful and you'll be fine. really, all this sleeve is is a spacer.

I only pop in here every now and then so I'll throw u a bone and hope it works. If you respond back i might not see it.. I hope this helps.
Take the foot back off manualy shift it in gear... when you move the rod up and down or turn it you shoud feel it engage in forward and reverse. Move the linkage back and forth either truning or moving up and down until you feel it in neutral.. Put your boat in neutral and hook the linkage back together.. I have had a 25 and 35 one rotated and the other was an older modle and the linkage actually moved up and down. Your linkage moved around when u put the foot back together.... If you went all the way one way it probaly was in reverse all the time or was way out and could not shift at all.. I bet the shifter felt funny too.... I seen one that stayed in gear all the time and the neutral safety switch didnt work and it would take off when cranked.... be glad your just dont shift... LOL Hey bro we have all done it. good luck.