Shift linkage off after changing impeller 1999 Merc 115hp

[mallardtone-man]

Hey guys,

I did my impeller last year and followed a youtube video to the T as well as the steps in the repair manual, however when I went to put it back together I had a hell of a time getting the splines on the shaft to line up and then the shift linkage was off. I had to take it in to have shift linkage adjusted as I wasnt sure how to correct the problem. There was a step in the manual that said to remove the jam nut on the shift coupler then turn the shift rod coupler until the upper and lower shift rods are separated prior to removing the gear case. I was not sure what the shift coupler was and tried digging in the manual but couldn't find it. I also watched a youtube video 4 the impeller on this motor and he didn't do this step I couldnt figure out what it was refering to and they did not do that on any of the videos i watched so i proceeded without it. This could have been where I went bad but I am trying to determine what I did wrong and how I could have corrected it so I can avoid this problem in the future. I have to do another impellar soon and am worried this will happen again. Can anyone give me any advice here?

 

[flyingscott]

More than likely the lower unit slipped into forward gear and the motor was in neutral. On a Mercury lower unit you want to make sure the lower unit stays in the gear it was removed in.