1999 25hp merc no forward or reverse

"motor has throttle/shifter on

"motor has throttle/shifter on tiller handle.While docking ,put motor into reversetoslow down.Lost forward and reverse gears.With boat out of waterchecked connecting rod while turning gear shift.It was not moving at all.Took off cowling and found small plastic armature laying at bottom by power head.It,s probably linked to the connecting rod but i,m not sure.any ideas? thanks,John"

"Sounds like you broke the shi

"Sounds like you broke the shift cam. It is a small plastic (lobed) piece with a square hole through the middle. It is #31 in the pic. It is located right under the front of the powerhead (but can be got to) - it connects the shift shaft to the rest of the mechanism....

"Thanks for the reply Graham.T

"Thanks for the reply Graham.The part Ifound on the bottom of the casing was #30.Icouldn,t tell how it was attached as the starter was in the way.I,ll have to remove it and have a closer look.Thanks, John"

"Yes, removing the starter sho

"Yes, removing the starter should leave you just enough room to get at it. That little clip inserts into part #31 and locks it onto the shaft (#32).

If it isn't broken it may have just popped off as the result of a "very hard" shift.

A pair of needle nosed pliers usually helps get it in place and then you can (feel) in with one finger and lock it back onto the shaft.

The toughest part is getting the shift-shaft to stay put, because the pin on that little lock goes through the hole on the one side of part 31, then through the shift-shaft and out the other side (so the shift-shaft going down to the lower unit is sandwiched in part 31).

Much easier done with an assistant "