1976 25 HP Johnson Seahorse water pump Replacement

[dthx]

1976....25E76E.....25 HP Johnson
On the shank of the engine there is a small plate that gives me access to the shift rod.
I took the plate off......
Taking that off ..I can see two 3/8 bolts that hold a "clip" around the shift rod (one rod coming from the top and one rod coming from the bottom.
I put the motor in neutral....
Loosened the two bolts that hold the clip around the shift rods.....
When I did that, the lower housing dropped a bit and there appeared a slight gap between the two housings.....
I tried to pull the lower housing down and away from the motor.....
It wouldnt come off.....
I loosened the two shift rod bolts as much as I thought I could without them falling off....
As I pulled down, the shift rod pulled the engine's shift lever to reverse.....
Still tugged with no success.
Question.......
Would it hurt to tap down and away on the lower housing with a block of wood or something?
I don't want to create a problem.
I just don't know what to expect.
Anybody that's done this got a suggestion or two...?
thanks

 

[F_R]

Leave the upper screw tight and completely remove the lower one. When you get it off, you will see that the screw passes through a notch in the rod, thus the need to remove it.

When you go to put it back together, use a flashlight to peer in there and make sure the screw hole exactly aligns with the notch in the rod before inserting the screw. If not aligned, the screw will drag on the edge of the notch, which will wipe the threads off the screw. Then it will fall out five miles from the dock.

 

[dthx]

Super good of you to let me know about the notch.....and to only remove the lower screw....!
thanks for the help!

 

[F_R]

I've done a few thousand.