Evinrude 48SPL Water Pump Removal

[bapent]

My water pump does not seem to be workingFollowing the service manual, I've placed it in reverse, removed the trim tab bolt, removed the bolt next to the trim tab, and removed the four bolts holding the lower gearcase to to exhaust housing, and the lower gearcase has dropped about 1"; however, can't get it to separate the rest of the way. Also, removed the starter and can't see any setscrew in the engine compartment on the shift lever.Did I forget to remove something or is hard-core pry force necessary??????Thanks

[Solittle]

Disconnect the shift rod.

[Mark R Groves]

Yes, disconnect the shift rod. It runs all the way up from the front area of the lower unit and enters cowling adjacent the power head. The linkage disconnect will be underneath the bottom carb. Difficult to get at... but not impossible.