89 Merc 9.9 Can't shift after lu re assembly

[vgiljebr]

After changing the impeller on my 1989 9,9 Mercury, I can’t shift from forward into neutral or reverse after re assembling the lower unit. It seems to be stuck in forward gear, and will not get into neutral or reverse at all.

I have re assembled the lower unit without the water pump and it shifts up and down very smoothly. Once the pump is back on it’s impossible to shift. The shift rod doesn’t seem to be bent or damaged in any way, but it feels like it keeps getting stuck on something down in the lu, once re assembled!

I've read that the lu should only be re assembled while in the forward gear, however I've found this to be quite impossible being that, with the e-ring in it's proper position, I am left with no space to tighten the screws.

Frustrated :%

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 89 Merc 9.9 Can't shift after lu re assembly

shift to neutral, on lower unit rotate drive shaft, and shift rod until in neutral. this will help in reassembly. rotate flywheel to line up drive shaft on reassembly