1999 Johnson 5hp J5REE

[jnb68]

How do you drop the lower unit on this motor. I am going after the impeller. The others I've taken apart have a connecter on the shifter linkage that you unscrew and the lower drops. Then you remove the bolts on the water pump housing and the driveshaft comes right out with the impeller on it. Is the process the same for this motor? Having trouble finding how to get the lower unit to drop after removing the 2 exterior bolts. The other motor I'm familiar with is the 79 15 hp evinrude if that helps any. Thanks for any info.

[boats.net]

There is a plate on mid housing that you remove to gain access to shift shaft coupling, once you remove bolt on shift shaft clamp it should drop down.
Number 4 in this diagramJohnson Outboard Parts 1999 J5REEC 1999 MIDSECTION Diagram