[homeline]

Hello all!First time poster here!I'm up against the same thing as knapp16. I've got a '83 35HP Evinrude longshaft. I removed the water inlet screen and disconnected the shift rod. Lower unit still won't come off. Seems tobe held on by the plastic cover over the impeller. Will removing this to the job? Seems like a strange way, shiftrod stays in unit with impeller cover and drive shaft slips through cover. I don't have the inspection cover mentioned. I looked closely at the shift lever up top. Looks to have some plier marks from previous maintenance. Surley I don't need to disconnect stuff on the upper part of the motor, do I?I had no problem when I did the one on my '53 Johnson. This on is a tad different.Any help is much appreciated.Cliff B.

[knapp16]

I had to unhook the shifter linkage bolts under and to the left of the caberator to get mine off. It is a lot of fun to take off!!

[copus]

Homeline.... I have the same motor but a 1982.When you disconnected the shift lever did you remove the small plastic keeper on the end of the upper shift rod? You can then slide the nut off the rod and it should go up through the pump housing.The keeper has a small split in it that you can open with a couple of screwdrivers.