55 hp Johnson Shift Rod

[Seadoomanls]

OK, so BIG mistake...called a mechanic told him I bought a 1979 55hp Johnson and needed to change the water pump...he said no big deal just drop the lower unit...undid the four necessary bolts and it moved very little...he said that it was probably frozen so i should get some leverage...well i pulled the shift rod out of the the lower unit and now i need to get it back in...upon reading this forum i have discovered the mechanic is wrong (which I can't wait to thank him for) and i do need to remove a bolt under the carb to release the shift rod...anyways I need major help PLEASE! Does anybody know how I can get a shift rod back into the lower unit without having to gut it from the propeller and work my way in? Seems like the "fork" type piece that clenches the shift rod opens a little bit...but the i put the shift rod in a hole and it won't go all the way down because of a horizontal spring in there...PLEASE HELP!

 

[Seadoomanls]

Re: 55 hp Johnson Shift Rod

OK, so BIG mistake...called a mechanic told him I bought a 1979 55hp Johnson and needed to change the water pump...he said no big deal just drop the lower unit...undid the four necessary bolts and it moved very little...he said that it was probably frozen so i should get some leverage...well i pulled the shift rod out of the the lower unit and now i need to get it back in...upon reading this forum i have discovered the mechanic is wrong (which I can't wait to thank him for) and i do need to remove a bolt under the carb to release the shift rod...anyways I need major help PLEASE! Does anybody know how I can get a shift rod back into the lower unit without having to gut it from the propeller and work my way in? Seems like the "fork" type piece that clenches the shift rod opens a little bit...but the i put the shift rod in a hole and it won't go all the way down because of a horizontal spring in there...PLEASE HELP!

dfsdfs

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 55 hp Johnson Shift Rod

The shift rod is threaded into the shift mechanism inside the lower unit. I am assuming that you have the lower unit off at this point, yes? THere are more than four bolts - there is one under the trim tab in the back...
- Scott

 

[Seadoomanls]

Re: 55 hp Johnson Shift Rod

Yes...had to pay $225 to get fixed...thanks though