Noobie-Need help identfiying a part, pics included

[dissturbbed]

1978 mercruiser 120 hp--- I am having a hard time figuring out what this part "circled in red in the photo" is for and how it connects to if any thing. I know its part of the shift linkage but it seems like it only fits inside a hole in the upper part of the stern drive with nothing attached to it, am i correct. What is this part for?


http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm229/dissturbbed/001_zps599b2515.jpg

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... The forward end rotates the shaft in the center, shiftin' the drive,....

It's the "End" of the lower shift cable,....

 

[Fun Times]

It's called a shift slide. Item number 17, http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...6&bnbr=60&bdesc=TRANSOM+PLATE+AND+SHIFT+CABLE

The shifting is done in the lower unit gear housing. To shift the lower gears, the slide connects to a lever (item 20) that connects to the shift shaft arm (# 23).http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...426.png&inbr=2686&bnbr=100&bdesc=BELL+HOUSING