evinrude help

i have a 85 hp evinrude but dont know what year it is the model number is 85393m and serial is j08320. i also need to change the impeller and have the lower unit loose but it will not come off all the way. it looks like a small shaft in the front oart of the engine is holding it up. can anyone help?

Re: evinrude help

Your engine is a 1973 model.The small shaft you speak of sounds like the shift rod.It will need to be disconnected under the carb area to drop the lower unit.

Re: evinrude help

jimbo,<br /><br />OB is correct. The shift shaft must be disconnected.<br /><br />Push the lower unit back up, put the engine in reverse, remove the pin for the shift shaft, then drop the L/U.

Re: evinrude help

thanks alot guys. would you happen to know the fuel/oil mixture? also it doesnt look like the shaft goes all the way up to the carb area. am i not looking hard enough? is it hooked up to linkage? any further help would be GREATLY appreciated. thx again

Re: evinrude help

jimbo the shift rod disconnect bolt you are trying to loacte is in the low end of the engine pan well under the lowest carb .Trace the shift arm from the shift cable and you'll find it.You'll come up with some choice words getting it removed.If I'm not mistaken it will require a 7/16 or 3/8 hex small socket with universal or wrench with a patient small handed operator to get at.Placing controls in reverse may help.Make sure to have someone spin the prop while shifting to avoid linkage binding.Fuel mix on that engine is 50:1.<br /><br />Before removing shift rod bolt insure that you have run at least two of the bolts back in to the lower unit and pull it back up in place.This will support it until you are ready to lower.

Re: evinrude help

this is for OB and DJOHNS, guys thanks for all your expertise. i do believe that i can tackle this task. thx again.

Re: evinrude help

Jimbo<br /><br />These guys are right, and it was a 3/8 hex. I used an extention wrachet with a 90 deg. swivell end on it. Thank god I had my 14 yr old with me to help guide that back in. It can be a pain.I do like their comment about leaving 2 bolts in the lower unit, I din't and almost lost my toes!Once you get the linkage bolt out it will slide out easily!Good Luck, and make sure the impeller is installed in the right direction or you'll be dropping th L/U once again!I know ,been there done that!<br />Deuce