Pinion Gear for OMC Johnson Evinrude 6, 7.5 and 8 hp - 1972-1990 - See Details - OMC 311189, 318447

To remove the top plate, there are usually two bolts near the base of the gear, but first there is a tube inside the middle of the pinion gear with a slot for a large straight blade screwdriver. You will need to partially rotate the inside tube to relieve pressure on the spring pin that connects the outer shaft and the inside tube. Note; For the recoil retract, the inside tube is under spring pressure; once the spring pin is removed with a center punch, the gear should come off the top. To get enough space and play to remove and reinstall, you may need to remove the two 8mm bolts near the base. The procedure for reinstalling in reverse order is as follows:

Hey Sam. It was a perfect fit for my 1972, but the model number did not match the product information. I would be wary of your '69 because it does not fit the description. Take a look at your rig's gear to see how it compares visually. In the earlier models, I believe a Pinion Gear could be quite useful. Good Luck