Re: Yamaha 90 shift rod replacement
Do a search of this forum on the subject of "Broken Bolts"!!! If your Yamaha is a saltwater engine, pulling the powerhead may be something you don't want to tackle!! Replacing the steel shift rod with a stainless steel shift rod requires pulling the powerhead, and frozen, broken bolts connecting the LU to the powerhead has ended the life of many an engine. The broken bolts will make separation of the powerhead nearly impossible and without the proper tools and bolt removal techniques some of the bolts will certainly break. Drilling out the long bolts with broken heads is also nearly impossible!! Minimally, you will need an oxy acetlyene torch for heat, (propane and mapp don't supply enough heat). Liquid penetrants such as Kroil, PB Blaster, doesn't touch aluminum oxide corrosion even if you can get the penetrant in to the corrosion which you probably can't. Do yourself a favor. Before tackling powerhead removal search the subject of "Broken Bolts" on this forum. One of the Iboats Yamaha technical gurus, (Rodbolt, who is no longer around) has the answer to this problem on this "broken bolts" subject!!
Oh, if you are doing the shift rod job, you will need to pull the lower unit also, so rebuilding the water pump is also a good thing to do while the lower unit is off.
