Reply To: OMC Shift Rod O-Ring Removal

[boscovius]

My 2 cents.

When I removed the bushings in the lower units for a 1957 Evinrude big twin 35 I took a threaded rod which was as close as possible to the hole in the bushing, (in my case I think it was 1/4 inch), then I put a couple of nuts on one end, leaving about a half inch or so sticking out.  I tightened the nuts against each other and then placed the rod in my vise with the nuts in the jaws.  Once tightened down I heated the half inch of exposed rod with a propane torch until it was glowing and then I began to deform it by hitting it squarely on the top with a hammer.  I performed this heat and hammer operation a couple of times until I had it just a bit too big, then I used my bench grinder to take away the threads at the part that would be engaging the bushing.

I had a nice flat piece of 1/4 inch steel with a 1/4 inch hole drilled in it and used that for the backing plate.  Worked like a charm.  Did two bushings with it, I’m sure it would do more.