Evinrude 1997 25 hp shift rod question after water pump kit

[Jim Towers]

Engine is a Evinrude 25 tiller, 1997 E25RLEUM Serial G 04220468. I have followed advise to get shop OEM manual and have replaced the water pump with the kit. While doing this I turned the shift rod while dis-assembling the coupling. I have reassembled it but do I need to readjust the length? does turning the rod shaft screw it in/out the lower unit? The manual shows adjustment at the top of the engine in the linkage. I have not started it yet due to the weather in NY.

 

[Jim Towers]

Update............I found an earlier thread that describes how to check and make sure you have the bottom shaft screwed down in order to shift correctly, finally turned up in a search that used those key words...... thanks to this site and all that contribute!