Sticking shift arm 1961 40hp Johnson

[ward cleaver]

1961 40hp Johnson RDS-23

This motor has been sitting for at least a couple years now and I am trying to bring her back to life. My current problem is that I am having trouble shifting. I've got it torn down now to where its just the shift arm passing thru the gasket, o-ring and bushing with no attachment on the upper or lower ends. The shift arm does not appear to have any defects in that it is straight and smooth. Apparently the o-ring and bushing are causing the binding.

My Seloc manual says to use a special tapered punch to remove the bushing and o-ring but it doesn't say whether to strike from the top or from the bottom. Also, my punches are tapered but I don't know how "special" they are. Lol. It looks like they come out thru the bottom although the diagram appears to indicate that they come out thru the top. A little help here.

 

[ward cleaver]

Re: Sticking shift arm 1961 40hp Johnson

Since I didn't really want to replace the bushing and o-ring, I decided to try something else. Namely, oiling the shift arm and working the oil into the o-ring with the hopes that if it has dried up maybe some oil will freshen it and make it more friendly. That worked a little but not enough. Then I tried putting the shift arm in place, turning the LU upside down and letting the o-ring soak in LU oil. Surprisingly enough that worked pretty good after about three hours. The shift arm now moves pretty much like it should with only a hint of binding.

Wonder what the nut goes to that I fished out of the bottom of the LU?