I just bought a little bass boat that I thought would make a good starter boat but the first time I took it out it got stuck in reverse. The man I bought it from said it had a new overhaul on the motor and it ran better than what I expected when I took it out for the first time.

The linkage is all working (or it looks like it is to me)in the control box and at the engine as well.

One thing I did find is a machined screw and a washer in the bottom of the engine compartment.

It did work just fine at first, had drive, neutral and reverse at first but I shifted into reverse and it's been there ever since.

Anybody got any ideas?

look under carb and check shaft going to bottom.. screww might have come of the yoke that ties the linkange to the shift shaft

Thanks!

I'll check that tonight...will the shift shaft move up and down without that screw?

no

While on the trailer, you can shift the engine in forward and revervese if someone is turning the prop. Lower units are not secronized and require the prop to turn if the engine is not running. There may be two things that could cause your lower unit not to shift. One" Cable Broke, Two" Bolt fell out of shift harness, Three' Lower unit broke Four" Prop spun hub.......Umph! Guess that's more than two, but between the isted items there should be a solution.

Thanks Mike...that'll give me something to do this weekend. I did check the shift shaft under the carbs and it is moving, not alot, but it is moving.

Im not sure about a 1977 johnson, but that shaft usually does not go all the way down to the lower unit. There should be linkage somewere. Sometimes there is a small cover on tyhe side of the motor to allow access to the linkage. If you remove the lower unit the shifting rod should have a way to disconecct it. I have seen that linkage come loose before. So the top of the rod moves, but not the bottom. If it is connected, then the lower unit is busted and its time for a rebuild.