Dummy needs help

[rwhit11]

1988 Johnson 150 vro. I replaced water pump myself, put back together and now cannot get the gear shift hooked up. Looks like shaft turned about 15 degrees and now the part that the screw fits in (on the shaft) is flat and not going into the shifter.

My question is can I rotate it or do I need to drop the lower unit, reposition it and reinstall unit. Is their an easier way to do this.

Mine is the all mechanical unit, no shift assist.

 

[Bob_VT]

Yes you can turn it since it is a small amount (I have used a needle nose on the shaft to grab it) and if you move the shifter at the control into either F or R it will move the linkage away (takes 2 people) and them align it to move the shifter back.

No need to drop the LU

 

[rwhit11]

Thanks, it looked like that would be the way. I will get a pair of long needle nose and give her a shot.