by Rich
(Long Island, N.Y.)
I just picked up a 1977 Evinrude 9.9 for my 14' MFG car topper. The gent I bought it from said it has not moved from his basement in 40 years and it looks like it, not a blemish on it. After breaking the cowel lever trying to open it I figure I better go slow and easy with getting this beauty ready for the water. I finally got the cover off, back and forth with pliers. The inside is just as clean as the outside but everything is stiff and the grease has hardened. The flywheel turns but I can not get the rope pull to work because I can not get the shifter to move to neutral and as per design, it is locked. Attached is a picture of the parts in question. My problem is that I can not get the grip (#6) to move to start, I can see the first part of the shaft (#16) moves but the 2 gears that mesh to the vertical control shaft (#26) do not. How do I free that up, I do not want to force it or try to move the gears with a screwdriver. Thanks for any advice, Rich.