Yamaha Water Pump Changeout Question

[monkster]

I need a little help on this one. I am helping my dad change out an impellor on a 1995 Yamaha 6HP. The shift linkage (rod) has a pin/clamp on the bottom that connects it to the lower unit. When I drop the lower unit it falls about 1 inch and then stops. I cannot get to the pin/clamp as it is inside the lower unit housing. I tried putting the shift lever into forward so that the shift rod would pull the pin/clamp upwards. Then I could remove the pin and free the shift rod from the lower unit. Not the case. The top end of the shift rod has a 90 degree angle so it will not drop down as in a Merc. I am sure that there is a very easy way to access the pin but I sure haven't found it. Is anyone familiar with this set up?

Thanks
Mark