Mystery Bolt Appears Atop 1980s 18hp Merc Lower Unit - Any Ideas?

partenr

Recruit
Joined
Jun 16, 2015
Messages
4
I've been hearing this "jingle-jangle" sound when on plane and I think I have found the culprit. Except I don't really know what to think of it. The red arrow is pointing to a 10MM bolt whose head is stuck in that void where the shift rod passes through between the two pieces. I've never had one of these apart in this area. Has this bolt come loose from either the top of where the rod comes through or the bottom of where the rod goes through?

I'd rather not haul my boat out of the water and disassemble the engine just to find that I didn't need to. Does anyone know where this bolt may have come from?

outboard.JPG
 

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Grub54891

Admiral
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
6,286
I think the only way to find out is to find a parts breakdown of the motor,then guess where it could have came from. Or just take it apart and look. It could have even came from under the cowl,if the shift shaft hole is big enough for it to fall into.
 
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