I was so careful NOT to move the shift rod when I did the water pump last week. I scribed a line at the base of it and took a reading with my tape measure. BUT, right before we put it back together, I took out my trustworthy tape measure and I was off 1/8”. Tape measures don’t lie so I started threading it in till I got my reading. You can imagine my surprise when I went to pick the **** thing up and the rod moved either in or out a half a friggin inch. Never should have taken out the tape measure. It WAS fine. So we trial and errored it. Ended bringing it up a few turns after eyeballing in place. Started motor, neutral and reverse but no forward, took it apart AGAIN. Brought it up another turn. Forward and reverse but no neutral, seemed to start in forward (yikes). Put/threw the tools away. Next morning, looked at things, clear head, turned the shift adj. thumbwheel inside the motor in approx 9 turns. Works fine in the barrel now. Got the height and measuring points from local parts counterperson. 21 7/32” But I want to go boating Saturday. Am I going to do any damage if this thing ain’t set right? Can I give it a sea trial ? Or am I going to be advised to, gulp, take the friggin thing apart again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “suggestions” welcome.
