Last Sunday I replaced the waterpump on my Johnson VRO 225 1989. After assembly with ears and water on all checked out. Today we headed down the Penobscot River and into the Bay. With new plugs, filters, thermostats, etc; she started on the first turn, idled, and then easily went into reverse as i backed out. Putting her into forward she ran great. Returning to the ramp I went into neutral as another boat was just pulling out and I was just awaiting my turn. As I went into forward to proceed I heard the slight clunk as you shift into gear but as I gave it gas it raced and slipped out of gear. I tried it again and it did the same. We put about 300 hours on last year without any problem. It would then slip easily into reverse. But forward didn't work until about the sixth time and then I kept the revs down. WE got to the ramp and loaded and now home. What is the possible good news(cheap fix) or the possible bad news(expensive fix)?
When I was reinstalling the lower housing with the pump, alligning the water tube, turning the fly wheel to engage the splines, and snaking the gear rod back up through and to the yoke under the carburator, the lower gear case rod may ahve turned a couple of times right or left, or maybe none. Does this cause the forward shift malfunction? Thanks, Gary
