older 65 merc bottom ends square shift shaft and splined ???

[proxj]

I have 2 merc bottom ends a friend has brought me, he is not to sure on the year of his motor and he had bought a new bottom end to replace his blown up on. the problem I am having is that the bottom end he has bought is a splined shift shaft and his is a square shift shaft. have inspected both lower units and from what I can see everything is the same besides the cam and the shift rod, my plan is to just put his parts into this new bottom end he has purchased. my problem is that he had some one else take apart his old shift shaft assembly, I took apart his new one and like in this topic below, I noted it shifts forward to neutral to reverse in a counter clockwise motion. now for installing his square shaft as it is keyed where it goes into the cam i just wanted to make sure the older square shaft is meant to be installed in the same counter clockwise forward to neutral to reverse way. as when he goes to install it I do not want to have to disassemble again, if any of you have any input on my problem i would greatly appreciate it.

 

[fastjeff]

The parts move the same way on both--the only difference is that square abortion (used only briefly).

IF--repeat--IF you can drive out the roll pin (in the top shift lever) with a drift, you MIGHT be able to pull the shifter shaft down and replace it with the correct one (and drive the pin back in). Worth a try.

Jeff