Thank you for your reply. The points have been set. Here in Michigan it is becoming difficult to find someone to work on these old motors. Otherwise the motor is clean and looks like it has been rebuilt based on the "newness " of the various gaskets.
My '98 60hp. 2 stroke 3 cyl. Seams to be stuck in forward gear upon startup. Throttle lever shifts from forward to reverse. Linkage at power head moves. Is the problem in the lower unit shift tang?