TOPIC: Shifter cam orientation

So...I guess I didn't take enough pictures when I torn down the lower unit.
I'm not able to determine which side is right side up for the shifter cam.
The pictures below are of the shifter rod and cam as if you are looking down on an angle

Can anyone help?

Pre 1965 engines with the shift and throttle cables on the outside of the cowl the cam is installed with the ramps pointing away from the oil fill hole on the lower unit. 1965 and later point towards the hole. Your top picture is later model engine installation, lower picture is earlier installation.

Great. Thanks for your help. It is a 1960 Merc 300 (I should have mentioned that in the post)

Ok, so now I'm over thinking it. I hate it when I do that!

So when you say "away from the oil fill hole", do you mean when the cam is pointing aft or fore? The reason I as is that by turning it 90 degree you can have it point toward or away without flipping it.

Then (like I said, I over think things), I started to wonder if by saying "Your top picture is later model engine installation" that "later" in the past (prior to 1965) or later (after 1965).

I got this "over thinking" thing from my father. We use to make fun of him because he always spent so much time planning/thinking rather than doing. Now, as I'm getting older, I realize I do the same thing!

See how the cam looks in the top picture? That is what you should see when you look into the lower unit, with the groove in the ramp facing you, except that the long part of the cam is facing the oil fill side, to the left. For your engine the long side must point away from the oil fill hole,to the right as you look down the hole at the cam, with the groove in the cam facing you. Do it like the top picture, but flip the cam over on the shaft so it points the other way. Should look like this when it is installed