Re: water pump replacement
I have a '77 Merc 50 hp and when I removed the lower unit, the shift rod stays up in there. Are you sure that you removed all bolts, one is difficult to find up under the anode and one is way down deep and requires a 6" extension to reach. Just speaking based on my motor, that shifter rod just hangs there, but there is a clevis up by the reverse lock cams that has a pin to remove it.
