I'm trying to fully disassembled my 1989 60 HP Evinrude Lower Unit. I'm guilty of not replacing the gear oil in a while and it ran dry. I have the service manual and I've removed the drive shaft and shift rod, and everything in the manual as described to the point where the prop shaft should come right out, but it will not. The condition of the forward gear, and visible shift mechanism components is lightly rusted. I was sure to push the shift lever into it's lower position as the manual describes but apparently something is damaged preventing the prop shaft from coming out. I don't want to start forcing it but but I'm out of ideas, any suggestions would be appreciated.
