1984 Mercury 35hp shift mix-up

[BobArch]

I recently got this 1984 Mercury running for a guy. 35hp. I put in a few new parts and had to replace the throttle control. So now the engine is running good, but R is forward and F is reverse. I know I had it in neutral when I hooked the cable on. Any thoughts or ideas on this would be appreciated.

 

[faztbullet]

What type of control as sounds cables is in wrong spot....

 

[BobArch]

It's a mercury controller, 8 pin 2 cable controller. It's just a simple push key to choke....it fit right into the motor. I had it in neutral when I hooked it up. I don't understand how the gears can be mixed up. Any ideas at all? Because I'm stumped and could sure use some advice. Thanks

 

[racerone]

Is the throttle cable hooked up to the shift linkages ?

 

[BobArch]

The fast idle works for the throttle. If that was the problem would the fast idle still work?

 

[fastjeff]

Some of those Merc control boxes were setup to shift assbackwards for some 9.8 and 20 hp Mercs--I owned a few. If so, the internal cam can be changed to a more 'normal' on, or you could get another box. The assbackwards ones are getting harder to find.

Jeff