I’m putting a gearcase seal kit in a 1959  35 HP Evinrude Lark – (The early Super-Quiet).  I’ve done seal kits before, but haven’t run into one this stubborn for removing that brass shift rod bushing to replace that O-ring.  I don’t have the OMC tool, but, as I’ve done on others, I ran a good quality 5/16 x 18 tap through the bushing, and put a long bolt through it from the bottom side.  I tried prying the bolt up with a forked pry-bar and stopped short of damaging the surface I was prying against.  Next I ran a 5 inch bolt into the bushing from the top side and attempted to drive it out by putting a socket wrench over the bolt head and hitting it with a small sledge hammer.  The bushing has not moved, but the bolt started to bend slightly.

Suggestions?   Should I try heat?  I have propane and MAPP gas torches, but it seems that it would be like trying to heat up a big heat-sink to get that area warm enough to expand.  Or should I get a bolt long enough to pull out the bushing by putting the bolt through a board or heavy metal piece that can rest on the bottom of that gearcase housing for the bolt to pull against as I tighten it, hopefully pulling the bushing out?

There is nothing in the way of the bushing – photo below.

Thx,

Dave