ITSABOUTTIME
New member
Just wanted to post. My mercury optimax 225 2000 was shifting so hard it broke the binnacle. After replacing the shifter and tracing the problem to either the lower unit or the shift bushing, I pulled the lower unit and sure enough the little nylon bushing was the culprit. As I was advised you have to pull the power head to change the bushing. I was able to get the shaft up thru the bushing about 3/4 of an inch and with very slight honing of the shaft with emery tape it now shifts smooth as butter problem solved no power head removal.