Dissengaging shift linkage shaft to drop lower unit on Merc

[Numbknots]

Well we had good intentions to take to the sound for 10 days when the 25 merc decided it wasn't going to show me that the water pump was working. I thought I could pull it down and replace the pump pretty easy and be on the way. (we are now into the second day) at the Marina, (took one day to find the pump kit) Well I am stuck not being able to see how the linkage is coupled on this particular motor?

Anyone happen to have a diagram and or procedure they could share, it would be gratefully accepted. In the am I hope to go by the local shop and see if they might be gracious enough to at least give me a glance at a factory manual.

Question, with the lower unit dropped a couple inches (free of the water pump) I can blow through the telltale pipe and here it going through the engine?? (this would seem to me that the thermostat is blocked open?) wouldn't this condition cause the telltale to flow water all the time if the impeller/pump was good??

Tim

[Numbknots]

I got it fixed!!! I fiddled with it for nearly all day today and finally found the proceedure,

A guy from IBoat also posted confirming the same thing.

Thanks all, after a couple more hours of scratching and searching I found out just as EF Henry said, there is a locking arm that has a pin through the shift shaft that is accessable (after removing the starter) All is good now. I was able to rebuild the waterpump and reinstall.

Question: There are (4) plastic bushings that are in the "complete mercury pump kit) that according to Partsexpress breakdown go under the screws that hold the pump housing down? Mine didn't have them installed so I didn't install them when rebuilding, (any comment?) Also there are (2) orange fibre washers) that appear to go around the copper water tube (at least is they fit the size) can't find a breakdown of where they are intended to go either> I got it all back together and it pumps and runs/shifts fine.

Thanks for the prompt replies

Tim

For what it's worth I like the way the ol Evenrudes and early mercs did the shaft coupling!!

[heymagic]

Good job Tim, sorry I wasn't more help. I get a couple calls a month to work on outboards,,,answer is always "no".

[Numbknots]

Gene,

Just when I think I know them, one of the "brands" pulls one of these goofball 'IMPROVEMENTS'.

Problem is they always break when you are trying to get away and no time to take them to a shop and leave them.

See ya on the water,

Tim

[Nelie59]

Tim,
I feel your pain I redid my water pump after I had Paul at US marine check it out (A Merc Dealer) and he gave me directions and it was not correct (he even said so) I think I have to pull the starter/carb also to get to that linkage.

THink of it this glad you are the one learning and not a guy in a shop charging you 75.00 per hour to learn on your motor :D better for me to learn than the other guy

[Numbknots]

guess next time I will follow my inclination to purchase a "factory service manual" for each engine I own. In this case it would have saved me a day and a half of headache!

On the Merc 25 the starter is real easy to remove and once removed the clip is right in front of you. My next project is to rebuild the tilt mechanism.

But all that is going to wait till I get back from this trip~

Tim