I have a question regarding a 1991 8hp Johnson outboard J8REIA and removing/installing the shift rod before and after replacing the gear case cover. It seems to me that the only way to replace the shift rod bushing is to remove the shift rod from the gear case. The top of the shift rod is flat on both sides and although the gear case cover is slotted so that it can be slid up and over the shift rod, the bushing is not. Therefore the only way I can see to get the busing off and replaced is to slide it off the bottom of the shift rod. That being said I can see from the parts diagram and from some videos on line that there is a cam that fits onto the end of the shift rod down inside the gear case and it seems difficult to be able to re-insert the shift rod into that cam without removing the drive shaft and gears in order to align the cam and shift rod. My question is?is there a way to re-insert the shift rod into that cam without removing the drive shaft to access the cam for alignment? It seems to me there should be a way to put the shift rod and cam into a particular position prior to removing it (i.e. forward neutral or reverse) that would keep the cam in a position where the shift rod could be removed and reinstalled without having to actually have access to the cam via removing the drive shaft. If any of you out there have some insight or advice on this particular issue/repair please respond. Thanks much.
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. I understand some of the confusion some of you who replied might have as the schematic of my gear case found on line does not accurately depict my issue. As I have discovered with his particular model and year I seem to be dealing with an ?odd Duck?. The schematic found on line would have you believe that the top of the shift rod is mostly cylindrical with one side cut away as a key way. I have found that with most replacement intact lower units that is the case as the gear case for my model motor fit many motors before and after that model year. However, it seems that 1991 might have been a transition for this model and they went with a different type of shifting mechanism that required a different shift rod. The top of my shift rod is flat on both sides which does not allow a completely cylindrical part to slide over it. This is my problem with the shift rod bushing (part No. 0324642). While the gear case cover itself is slotted to fit over the top of the shift rod, the bushing just underneath the gear case cover is not and will not slide up over the top. I need to replace the bushing as it is worn out. If you click on this link you can see a YouTube video of a guy explaining the very issue I have 