[macojoe]

before 1994 they were all steel shift shaft and roted just below the space at the lower unit. were you can't see them!

I noticed mine going when the shifter was out of adjustment. fixed and it went out again, after the third adjustment it was broke right at the ramp.

You have to remove the power head to replace this is the only way!!

1994 and up they replaced the shift shaft with a SS one and there is no more problems.

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Another thing, the guy I got my Yamaha told me to always run a 50:1 mix the first tank in the spring, this is for two reasons.
1-- is it will lube up real good after the long winter

2-- It will give you a chance to make sure that your oil pump is working!! Some get gumed up or what ever after sitting for a while.

This spring was the first time I did not listen to that advice!! The results the motor blew a piston!! After careful inspection and a lot of advice from this board and others, It seems that the oil pump was indeed the thing that let go. I went to take it off the motor and it fell apart!