Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

[deserttoad]

I have just finished swapping out an Evinrude Lark 40 for a Sea King 40, both look like identical motors. Last thing to check was the lower unit oil - but I removed the wrong screw, my book says it's the shift fork screw, and that I really shouldn't have done this.

Question - is there a trick to getting it back in without removing the lower unit?!?!

thanks,

Deserttoad

 

[Walker]

Re: Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

Get a flashlite and look in the hole. You should be able to see the hole in the linkage wher the screw goes thru. If not then drop the lower unit and lay on its side watch in the hole and manipulate the shift rod and you should be able to get everything lined up to put the screw back in.

 

[dsinger]

Re: Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

At least you will be able to check on the water pump

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

Most time's when this happen's, The shift fork, and clevis will fall down out of engagement. You need to remove the lower skeg to correct this.

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

I first wiggled an o-ring pick around in the whole and couldn't line anything up.

Tried just a little to loosen a screw in the bottom piece, they are very tight.

Also moving the shift lever seems to shift the lower end, perhaps there is still hope?

dang me dang me, the boat was ready to roll!

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

Aha!

Asked for the trick, but I found it. When you said the fork usually fall down I went and wiggled it around a bit with my pick, and it would come up a bit. So in neutral I pulled it up a little at a time with two picks, and putting it in forward held the fork up - insert screw and tada!

thanks for the help, hope this might help someone else down the line.

DT

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Help! Removed wrong screw from lower unit!

That screw has a philips head ... just don't mess with it!