1992 Johnson 25hp Waterpump/ lower unit

[Nates78ski]

Working on replacing the water pump on the engine & I can't get the lower unit to come apart from the upper. I had it in FWD and it didn't drop hardly at all when I removed all the bolts. When I put the helm in Neutral or Rev it separates the lower about a 1/2" from the upper, but still nothing. I'd tapped it lightly with a deadblow and it won't budge. Am I missing something?

 

[racerone]

You have to disconnect the shift rod.---Follow these simple steps.------------#1 remove the black plastic water intake screens.------#2 undo the 2 nuts found there. ---# 3 -- remove paint from upper shift rod and slide the top nut up that shift rod.---#4 remove the black plastic keeper that you see there. That keeper is split.-----Lower unit should now come off.