'85 Mercury 75hp, shift shaft pushed up due to misalignment

[kbomb]

While reinstalling my lower unit following an impeller replacement, I did not have the shift shaft lined up properly and pushed the rod up by accident when I tightened the bolts up between the lower unit and the upper half.

I'm having a hard time finding an exploded diagram to see what was damaged but I included a couple pics to describe the problem. The lower end of the shaft is pushed up and the top of the shaft in the cowl is pressed out of its slot.

Wondering if i just pull it back down will I be ok, or is there more damage that will require additional disassembly?

 

[Texasmark]

The Merc. shifter is splined and rotates to shift, making for a reliable mechanism. What we don't know is how long are the splines on the ends of the shaft.....how far can you move the engagement and still be spline to spline vs wedging into unsplined shaft material.

If you look at the shifter arm, from the remote control attachment point and it isn't bent and the remote controlling of the shift shaft is functioning properly, I'd think some penetrating oil and a pair of long reach long nosed pliers (Harbor Freight stocks them) might push it back in place with no problems. I'd get a Dremel tool with wire brush and clean up the splines on the lower end and lube up good to reduct the friction of reassembly of the LU so you won't be pushing it back up.

 

[Faztbullet]

Need to get a mirror and inspect that web that's cast on front of crankcase..when this problem happens the rod can push against that web and crack or break it off leaving a hole directly into #4 cylinder.

 

[Texasmark]

need to get a mirror and inspect that web that's cast on front of crankcase..when this problem happens the rod can push against that web and crack or break it off leaving a hole directly into #4 cylinder.

ouch!