Tohatsu 8HP 2 Stroke

[DOILY]

I was realy chuffed with myself when I seperated the lower leg and changed the impeller today (see post 5 Nov). - It's the little plastic guide bush for the gear change rod that's scewed to the top of the lower leg that must also be undone. However, imagine my surprise when I discovered that even after 2 hours of stressful fiddling I couldn't get the lower leg back in!! The bottom of the gear change rod wont find it's way into its location at the bottom of the leg (or so it seems!). Any ideas please before I endure the embarrissment of taking the two halves to my nearest dealer?
Oh, in case you are wondering, the impeller I replaced showed no signs of wear - they never do, do they?

 

[VicS]

If it really is the gear-change rod , it may simply be because the selector is in one position while the gearbox internals are in another. The gearbox internals probably have a spring that shifts it either into forward or reverse. Try moving the selector back and forth to see if it will then engage. Alternatively maybe what it engages with has moved. Can't help there as I don't know the box.

Usual trouble is getting a splined drive shaft into the crankshaft. Try to line them up and turn the crankshaft back and forwards slightly.

I have frigged out for ages then its all suddenly dropped into place (then Ive taken it apart again to find out why!)