Nissan NS3.5B shift lever sticky

[jauguston]

I just aquired this engine. It has been in salt water. The shift lever is very hard to move and I am guessing salt growth in the housing. I have removed the cover on the inner end and taken the screw out of the lever in there. The lever is free on the shift shaft but I can't pull the shaft out of the case and I have used as much force as I think the plastic shaft will stand. I have used lots of Kroil penetrating oil on both ends. Have I missed something else that holds the shift lever shaft into the housing besides the inner lever? If not any suggestions for a plan B? Thanks for the help.

Jim

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Nissan NS3.5B shift lever sticky

Removal of the pin frees the shaft of everything except the friction caused by salt. While carefully pulling the shift handle away from the engine have someone else gently pry the shaft out with a small scewdriver from inside the access port.

 

[jauguston]

Re: Nissan NS3.5B shift lever sticky

Got it! Just had to pull and push harder. The inner o-ring area was cover with mother natures Loc-tite. Took my Dremel with a wire brush and cleaned the bore, lots of white dust (-: New o-rings and lots of lube and all is well with the shifting.

Next issue is the gear case vent is plugged. With both top and bottom screws out I cannot blow through the gearcase even with 120 lbs of shop air. I started to remove the lower unit but stopped after I could not move one of the bolts, the one by the zinc. I turned it upside down and filled it that way, probably not the best but I don,t feel like extracting a broken bolt. I will watch the oil level.

Not much more to do until next Tues when the new head I have ordered comes. The head had frozen and cracked into several pieces.

Jim