1988 85 hp Force outboard

[mrjrwj1]

I attempted to change gear oil in lower unit and made a big mistake it seems. I accidentally removed the wrong screw from what I thought was the drain pin. I now found out it is a "clutch pin" or "shift pivot pin" or something. When I put the screw back in the "propeller is always in gear". It didn't make any funny noise ( I don't think). How do you get the pin and everything back in proper alignment? Should I take it to a qualified repair shop? Have I damaged the lower unit?

 

[Jiggz]

Darn, wished you had post on how to drain LU oil before attempting it. Anyways, I don't think you have damaged the LU yet. But now you will have to drop the LU and remove the water impeller and also the cover for the main drive shaft access to see the shifting unit. It can still be done but like I said, you need to drop the LU and also removing the impeller and the drive shaft cover to access the shifting unit.

This has been posted many times over and specific steps to take to do it is usually posted. Search the post.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Be VERRRRRY careful when removing the shift shaft cover as prying on the front can break/warp it.
Using assembly grease will help hold the pieces of the shift mechanism while assembling.

 

[777funk]

I have unscrewed that myself on my first Force almost a decade ago... I knew when the screw came out and I saw the rounded end, I had done something wrong. I put it back in before the works dropped down and all was ok. But... it taught me a lesson.

At the end of the day it will just mean more work but should be ok. Just make sure you put it back together like the exploded diagram shows. Might also be good to find a manual on rebuilding the LU so you know it all goes back together correctly.

 

[The Force power]

I attempted to change gear oil in lower unit and made a big mistake it seems. I accidentally removed the wrong screw from what I thought was the drain pin. I now found out it is a "clutch pin" or "shift pivot pin" or something. When I put the screw back in the "propeller is always in gear". It didn't make any funny noise ( I don't think). How do you get the pin and everything back in proper alignment? Should I take it to a qualified repair shop? Have I damaged the lower unit?

In addition to the advice already given, This is what happened;
The Coupling (#49) will have come loose and Yoke/Shift-pin has fallen inside the LU
Here are the steps to take;
Remove/drop the lower-unit
You'll have to remove the gear assembly reverse/prop-shaft/dog-clutch but you can leave the Drive-shaft/pinion-gear and forward-gear.

Tilt the Lower-unit with the opening to the sky and move it around, with aid of a flashlight you will find the Yoke that has fallen off the shift-pin when the Pivot-pin(#32) was accidentally removed.

Now the tricky part (as the yoke is not magnetic) to fish it out trough the prop shaft opening from the forward-gear.

Once the pivot-pin is back in its place and the Coupling moves back and forth as it should, apply a small amount of marine-grease on the yoke/shift-pin(to keep it from falling off) also make sure the yoke's opening is facing down

Have the coupling facing toward the shift-pin and yoke(moving it in place by puling/pushing the Shift-shaft
now slowly start pushing the prop-shaft and all parts attached into the lower-unit.

Make sure!! the yoke lines up with the coupler behind the forward-gear, when it latches together; you'll see the shift-shaft come up

Patience & steady hands are required (results may vary)
Good luck

 

[The Force power]

Be VERRRRRY careful when removing the shift shaft cover as prying on the front can break/warp it.
Using assembly grease will help hold the pieces of the shift mechanism while assembling.

and will not find a replacement for it

 

[3rdtimesthecharm]

I took one off and turned it upside down and got it to line back up before. Used a awl in the screw hole to fish the yoke around.