90 hp gearcase removal

[vjb]

Have a 1990 90hp Johnson and need to replace water pump. I have the shop manual and did the following: 1. Removed prop 2. Put in reverse and moved pin in the shift lever inside engine. Pushed shift lever toward engine. 3. Removed trim tab and three more bolts at rear of gearcase. 4. Removed 4 bolts on the sides of the gearcase.<br />Gearcase drops down about an inch and I can rock it side to side and up and down but something is holding the gearcase front to the engine. I think it's the shift rod. Don't really understand how to release it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Walker]

Re: 90 hp gearcase removal

Yep, sounds like the shift rod is still hooked up. You need to lift the L/U back up to get the tension off the shift rod. Take the shift cable loose too. Now push the shift lever towards engine as far as it will go and wiggle it. When the shift linklage comes free you will be able to rotate the shift linkage back and forth real easy. You will be able to tell when its free.

 

[vjb]

Re: 90 hp gearcase removal

Thanks Walker. By L/U do you mean the gearcase? Will try tonight.

 

[ronmax99]

Re: 90 hp gearcase removal

I am in the process of doing the same thing to the same engine. I had the same problem. Do not get hung up on the manuel telling you to put it in reverse. I thing this is so that you can remove the pin. Put some bolts back in like the previous post indicated and then move the lever to about neutral. You can see where you can push the lever to port side without hitting the power head. It will slide right in. I know that putting the gear case back in will be another issue as I am sure that the pin will not engage the hole in the rod properly.