Progress is coming along on my 59 Evinrude fisherman 5.5hp, I’ve replaced the water pump and inspected the plate/bearing carrier underneath the pump(replaced it’s gasket as well). It looked decent to me, but after reassembly and looking at some pictures of worn carriers, I’m thinking that my shock absorber has sprung. The wear I saw doesn’t indicate the need for a new carrier, and being aware of the rareness/cost I’d be inclined to keep it as is.
Since I’ve re-assembled everything ,and removing the power head is a pain, is it possible to drop the skeg and remove the shock absorber from the bottom? Or do I just need to suck it up and pull the powerhead again?