I bought this new(used) boat with a Volvo 270 outdrive that is not locking down. After carefully studying the problem I found out the tip of the push rod which the tilt mechanism is supposed to push down on when raising the unit is stuck. It looks like at some point in the past, the plate on the end of the tilt mechanism was lost and it has chewed up and flattened out the end of the fork where that little push rod is supposed to protrude. I ordered all of the missing parts for the lift mechanism(new plate and lock washer) but I need to do something about cleaning up that little hole in the fork. I think just running a drill bit through it and a little filing is all I need to do so the push rod can move freely but first I have to get that rod out of the hole and it is attached to the reverse mechanism down at the bottom. After checking all of the removal instructions in both the syloc and clymer manuals it shows removing the reverse mechanism as part of removing the entire sterndrive. My questions is, is it possible to partly disassemble the reverse lock mechanism while still attached to the boat just enough to get this push rod off temporarily? It looks like I could just disengage the bar with the two springs and then remove one of the lock nuts on the other bar attached to the two sides and finally remove the non spring side (locating pin?) and get that push rod off. Has anyone done anything such as this or able to offer some advise on what I might expect trying to do this? Any help would be much appreciated. Other than the stuck push rod it appears the reverse lock mechanism and locking pawls are in great shape. Thank you.