gears slipping on an 81 Johnson 35hp outboard

[deep_fried_crappie]

Ok guys, got a big problem with my outboard. It's an '81 Johnson 35hp longshaft. I put it on the water for the first time this weekend and found out that at low throttle i have no problems out of it. But once you give it 1/4 to 1/2 throttle, it sounds like the gears are slipping. The motor acts like I've hit a stump at 40 mph. It hits real hard and jumps in the water. It's almost like it's slipping out of gear for a second. I'm thinking my lower unit is shot but was wondering what you guys thought. We messed with it some more today and now when you shift it into forward, it stays in neutral and when you put it back into neutral, it's moves in reverse. If it is the lower unit, where could I get this one worked on around the central arkansas area and what would the cost be to just replace it? Thanks for any help guys, here's a pic of the motor.

[Slipcork]

First sounds like a hub slipping in the prop maybe. Try different prop? Now the shift linkage is out or sink.

Don't know anyone in Conway area, but most older shops should have no problem with it.

[deep_fried_crappie]

So I need to try a new prop and re adjust the shift linkage?

[Strip]

Not the prop. It could be the shifter is bad out of adjustment or it is something more serious. take it to a mechanic ASAP, you can easily destroy a lower unit. bearings are cheap, gears are not. get it checked out.

[Turtlebait]

Sounds like the hub to me too or linkage,,,worse which is not likey the lower unit stripped.

[RCC]

I don't know if the 81 is built like the older motors, but I had a 67 20hp that would do the same thing. When you would run it hard it would KLUNK like you had hit a stump. It was the clutch dog in the foot that was worn. You may luck out and it be just be an adjustment if reverse is where neutral is supposed to be.

[Cray]

So I need to try a new prop and re adjust the shift linkage?

Adjust linkage back to where it was. Put another prop on and try it. Most likely the hub is bad on