'89 Mercury 9.9 Sailpower lower unit removal

[myoungpy]

I am having trouble getting the lower unit off of my auxiliary outboard. I've tried to remove it while it is in forward, reverse and neutral, but no luck. I think it is the shift rod, because I can't get it loose. Thanks

[Nazdrowie]

Did this the other month to replace the impeller. Look up and google impeller replacement, because it tells you exactly how to remove the lower unit. Anyway, there are two bolts to remove, one is difficult because you have to ease the lower unit off as the bolt is removed (I used a small scraper to get into the seam of the upper/lower unit. takes some time but nothing is holding it in from the inside as you were thinking. Make sure the shifter is in nuetral and do not move the "shaft" once it is out!! It has to go back in the same way. Good Luck, Have patience.
Domer

[capecodda]

Right advice. Different manufacturers have different ways of connecting their shift rods. Not sure how Mercury does it. On other outboards I've dropped lower units, by disconnecting the shift rod after removing an access plate. The rod had a coupling under the access plate. Then it took some jiggling around to reconnect everything right.

Also, if the lower unit has not been removed from a while, things might be stuck and some force required, but be careful, don't want to crack the casting. Don't ask how I know.

Good luck.

[donlofland]

Yeah, and the other thing with the shift rod is that deep underneath the power head is a cam-like device that fastens to the inside casing and pivots up to release the shift rod-took forever to figure out how that released, and my girlfriend's slender hands to fasten back down when reattaching the lower unit.