Tohatsu slotted spring pin

[AngusMcDoon]

The gear change rod on my Tohatsu 9.8 has a connection half way down to allow the lower leg to be removed, required when maintaining the water pump. The connection in the rod is secured by a slotted spring pin (sometimes called a C pin) - which is a maintenance nuisance as it can be difficult to get out, a fiddle to get back in, and being tiny is easy to ping off somewhere and lose. Is there any good reason why I can't change it for a drop nose pin, or machine screw and nylock nut, or split pin, or clevis pin, or anything really (like a bent nail) that isn't an annoying spring pin?

 

[C08]

My Tohatsu 20Hp has roll pin, perhaps another name for what you call a c pin. These can be really hard to get out if you forget which way thay were inserted and try and remove an old pin against the end which has been knocked in. Good news is they are only about 5p from tohatsu dealer. I am going to use a stainless split pin next time I do the impeller as they only take the push/pull of the gear change shaft.