Re: 1959 Evinrude 5.5 no neutral?

[tworivers]

Fleetwin,
Thank you very much for your well thought out reply.
You bring up some very good points worth considering.
I did replace the shift shaft seal. I used the hex head (the part that goes into the drill chuck) of a drill bit extension to knock the bushing out.
After removing the busing I noticed that the bushing had the hex shape of the extension impressed on one side slightly disfiguring the hole that the shaft rides through. The other side was not affected so when I put the bushing back in I flipped it over with the hex side facing up.
I figured the new o ring under the bushing would guide the shift shaft?
Could I have disfigured the bushing enough to cause binding there?
I’m debating whether to replace the bushing or try to clean it up and re-install.
Good call on the washers. The rear one did fall off but I found it and re-installed.
I’ve owned 11 outboards over the years but this was my first and the one I’ve held onto. It’s always been the smoothest running motor. It’s lasted all these years. I wouldn’t want something stupid I did to cause it harm.
thanks again
rob