40hp mercury wont accelerate

[madmax18]

Motor shifts into gears fine, R/N/F. It accelerates fine when in reverse, but when I put it in forward it does not accelerate up to full speed. The last outing to the lake I was able to accelerate up to full speed once, but before then and after that one time I was unable to. I am not sure if its something where I have to warm the engine up first or if the linkage is off. But when I take the cover off, the linkage moves the same amount forward as reverse.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. The motor is a 1980 40hp mercury with mercontrols on a bass tracker.

Thanks!

 

[fastjeff]

The linkage keeps it from going full throttle in reverse.

You need a tune up.

Jeff

 

[madmax18]

Is there anything I can do myself, or would it be best to just take it into the shop?

 

[madmax18]

Dumb question. Pushing the throttle in which direction should be reverse vs forward?

 

[racerone]

Have you had the cables off at the motor ?-------The shift cable is the first cable that moves.-----------Pushing the handle forward first shift the motor to forward and then as you push forward the motor goes faster.-----Is the motor running on both cylinders.---Compression test done ?