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40 horsepower merc stuck in reverse

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wallygato

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Yesterday I had my pontoon boat out for a ride powered by a 2 stroke oil injected 40 horsepower mercury ob. As I slowed and approached the dock I shifted the engine into reverse and there is remains. Look inside the engine compartment and found that the throttle cable moves but the shift cable will not move. I can change from reverse to forward if I disconnect the cable and manually shift the motor. If I reattach the shift cable I'm back in reverse and stuck there. I'm looking for some help because I have a boat access only camp where the motor is located so I need to fix it on site if possible. I will be forever grateful for any help I get to resolve this issue Thanks
 
fastjeff said:
Sounds like the control box is screwed up.

Jeff
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Thanks Jeff. I really appreciate your quick response. Just one question? What do you mean when you say that the control box is screwed up? Can I fix it or does it need to be in a shop? What exactly would I be looking for in the control box that could cause this problem? I'll be waiting for your reply.
 
My thinking is that the cable end inside the control box is broken or disconnected somehow.

Question: Does the motor end of the shift cable move when someone worked the shifter?

Jeff
 
fastjeff said:
My thinking is that the cable end inside the control box is broken or disconnected somehow.

Question: Does the motor end of the shift cable move when someone worked the shifter?

Jeff
Click to expand...

The throttle cable moves when disconnected from the engine but the shift cable does not. Jeff tanks again for your help
 
There's your problem. Pull the shift cable from the box and see if the end is still in place. If not, buy another cable. If the end is there, however, the control box has an internal issue.

Hope it's just the cable.

Jeff

PS: Be sure you are looking at the right cable! Easy to confuse the two.
 
fastjeff said:
There's your problem. Pull the shift cable from the box and see if the end is still in place. If not, buy another cable. If the end is there, however, the control box has an internal issue.

Hope it's just the cable.

Jeff

PS: Be sure you are looking at the right cable! Easy to confuse the two.
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Jeff I so appreciate your input and I thank you for your directions. I think from what I'm seeing its a control box issue. Does it make sense to fix the old box or replace it with new?
 
Find the diagram for your box and take it apart no need to replace anything before you find out whats wrong. You can replace the box but you need to pull it apart anyways to install the cables. Pull the box and cables out of the boat and take them home to figure it out.
 
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kimcrwbr1 said:
Find the diagram for your box and take it apart no need to replace anything before you find out whats wrong. You can replace the box but you need to pull it apart anyways to install the cables. Pull the box and cables out of the boat and take them home to figure it out.
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The boat is coming out of the water tomorrow nd we'll get a better look at the problem. I'll let you know what if find. Thanks again Jeff
 
wallygato said:
The boat is coming out of the water tomorrow nd we'll get a better look at the problem. I'll let you know what if find. Thanks again Jeff
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Okay Jeff here is what I've found. If I disconnect the shift cable from the motoer I can shift in all gears easily, But if I pull on the gear shift cable end the end pulls away from the cable exposing a metal cable in the interior that if I wanted I could pull out many inches. Does this indicate that the shift cable has broken somewhere along its length?
 
wallygato said:
I aaume that your response is an affirmative that the cable is broken. Am I right?
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Replace the shift cable. The internal wire should never pull out of the cable sheath as you described it. It's busted. To prove this, pull it all the way out and you'll find where it broke.
 
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