Expert: Jeff Grigg - 2/13/2008

Question
Shift is difficult to move to neutral from forward or reverse and also often overshoots to the opposite gear. I have disconnected the cables at the engine linkage and the control box and cables seem fine, move freely. Also while disconnected I can  move the engine linkage easily and shift between gears.I have adjusted the shift linkage at the engine to line up the mark on the shift linkage slider between the 2 marks on the slider housing with little improvement. I don`t have a manual I just assumed thats what the marks are for. Any Ideas??
Thank

Answer
If you can move the shift linkage easily at the engine then you can rule that out. Similarly if the control cables move freely disconnected then the problem isn't in the control box. What is probably happening is the routing of the cables themselves. If they take too much of a bend or too many bends then they can bind, particularly with older cables.
Shift the lower unit into neutral. Shift the control into neutral. Now adjust the cable to match the linkage. Attach the cable and try it again. You should be able to shift into forward and reverse easily. Have someone turn the propeller by hand, engine off, to make sure the clutch and gears don't high center when shifting.
Post back if needed.
Jeff