Reply To: 1958 10 hp Johnson Mysteries

[Don]

Hard to advise here.  Perhaps posting a picture or two might help out.   There should be either a hole in the forward gear bushing where the pin fits into.  Sometimes, when the units are misassembled, the pin puts a “dent/dimple” in the forward gear bushing/bearing, so you should check the fit of the bushing/bearing over the gear to make sure it rolls freely.