Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1957 Johnson 18HP FD-11 water pump HELP! › Re: 1957 Johnson 18HP FD-11 water pump HELP!
Hello and welcome! I would suggest using a pair of long nose pliers to guide the shift rod in to the connector. Harbor Freight has the extra long nose pliers cheap. Another hint: at the top of the shift rod (on the gearcase side) there is a notch machined into the end. A little dab of white paint applied to the notch, with an artist touch up brush, will allow you to see it when it is aligned properly. The white paint should be fully visible through the bolt hole in the brass shift rod connector. This will prevent stripping the bolt threads when installing. A dab of vaseline on the water pump tube grommet will also help. Here is a picture of the long nose pliers. Handy as a shirt pocket! https://mobiledistributorsupply.com/11- … 4EALw_wcB#
BTW, your 18 Johnson is one of the best all around outboards that OMC ever built, in my opinion. Great motors!