1993 20hp 2stroke mercury help

[boater1234]

I just purchased a really nice 20hp merc.I am replacing the impeller and doing a bunch of maintenance work to it.I have a question i believe i may know but i need someone with a bit more experience to confirm i am correct.

So i looked at the shift shaft rod and it was not going through the reverse hook that is there but it looked like it should.So my question is,is the shift shaft rod on a 1993 20hp 2stroke mercury supposed to go through that hook before i connect it back to the clip under the carb?.The funny part is reverse is fine and i believe everything works as it should but man i am almost 100% positive from looking at it that it should go through that hook because the hook is just laying there and if you grab it,it moves all over the place as in back and forth and has lots of play.I'm hoping someone can confirm this as i am going to have this lower unit back on by tom night.

Any help would be awesome,thanks.

 

[GA_Boater]

When you were looking at the the reverse lock hook, was the lower unit off. It flops around some when it's hanging there.

The rod itself goes through the hook arm and a cotter pin with a couple of washers keep it on the arm. From memory, anyway.

There should be a spring on the hook to hold it open or closed. I don't remember which way the spring pulls, I think toward closed.

 

[flyingscott]

Yes the shift rod goes through the loop. Make sure there is a washer on the shift shaft it sits on the 2 ears on the shaft. The washer lets the hook get pulled up to release the lock when the motor goes in forward.

 

[boater1234]

Flyingscott,thank you for the confirmation. I swear it looked like it went through. I realized when I took the lower unit off it wasn't through the hook. I couldn't find out what that washer was for till I did extensive research on it and u just hit it on the head. First of all whoever did the water pump last never put a washer back on the shaft and didn't put it through the reverse hook,good thing it's easy to take off the lower unit and to put it back on. I need to go to the marina this morning to get the washer. Thanks for the info.

 

[boater1234]

Plus I'm doing the water pump anyways so it needed to come off.

 

[flyingscott]

You could just go to the hardware store and get a stainless one it will probably be cheaper.

 

[boater1234]

I went to the marina this morning,I can't believe how small the washer is,the hook itself must be small if this washer does the trick. Worries me a bit that the washer has a little play when sliding it on,I would of figured it would of slid down the shaft easy but a tighter fit if u get what I'm saying. What I mean is the hole in the washer would be a bit smaller so the washer sits tighter to the shaft with nearly no play,just enough for it to slide up and down. It doesn't like wobble all over but I just figured a tighter fitting washer.

 

[flyingscott]

No the ears on the shaft hold it on doesn't need to be tight. When I install my lower on my 25 i put the washer on first then install the lower unit. If the hook is a problem take a piece of wire bend it and use it to catch the hook to maneuver it.

 

[boater1234]

Thanks for the tip.I have the motor apart and i'm cleaning it up.It is supposed to get nice and cool here in fl next week so i will work on everything then.It is a bit warm now as i know most are probably frozen elsewhere,lol.The lower 50's for highs is great working weather and we don't have much cooler weather left as it gets freaken hot here starting in like may.I hate the heat but at least i can fish all yr around.