i have a 1988 johnson 88 hp spl motor need to know location of upper shift rod bolt and what tools i need to remove bolt.
i am replaceing water pump impeller.
B. Smith,
I had that exact same motor that was on a ski boat I just sold last weekend. To disconnect the upper shift rod under the bottom carb all you have to do is pull a retaining like a diaper pin out and push the shifter linkage inward toward the engine and the shift rod disconnects for you. No need to take the carbs off to do this becuase I did a water pump replacement myself a few years ago on this same motor and it worked great. To find that shifter that you have to disconnect follow your shifter cable in where it comes from the boat back to the shifter linkage that that cable is attached to and you will see a retaining/diaper pin looking device that you have to remove first then once that retainer pin is out you push inboard toward the motor and the shift shaft disconnects. Let us know how it turns out. Bob