1989 Evinrude 100 xp Shift Rod Connection

[MichaelBarrow]

I recently did a impeller replacement on my outboard and am having trouble re-installing the lower unit back in. To drop the lower unit i took the cotter pin off the shift cable bracket and was able to push in the cylinder connected to the bracket, which helped the lower unit actually detatch.

Now that I changed the impeller kit, I tried to reinstall the lower unit but it would not fit all the way in nor can i figure out how to reconnect the shift rod. Based on what an AI told me there is supposed to be a screw that screws in to hold the shift rod onto the upper unit but I never had to unscrew anything to get the lower unit to drop. I just simply pushed the bracket-cylinder in to release the lower unit.

In another video I watched on this that looks exactly like the interior of my outboard, the user was able to fit the shift rod in a gap made by the bracket-cylinder being pushed in and then was able to pin the rod once he pulled the bracket-cylinder back. However i cannot feel or really see a Pin connected like the one he has either.

Does anyone know what I might be doing wrong or if im missing something? Also was wondering if I will have to take The front plate and carbs off to access this?

 

[Berdink]

If you can get a picture of where you are having the issue might help ones visualize your issue.
.
Also, if your shifting cable is still attached, is your lower unit and shift handle both in neutral?
.
I think when I did it, I disconnected the cables to make it easier to line up the pin with the hole in the shift rod.

 

[Berdink]

Does this help? Towards the end he zooms in on how the shifter Linkage connects to the shifting rod.
.