I go forward, boat goes backwards??? shifter help !!!

Randal106

Seaman
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
56
ok....LOL....

got the boat on the river for the first time today, puled the controll /throttle lever backwards to put it in reverse to back of the trailer, and i go forward??????? was pretty funny to my passenger at first LOL.

Basically the shifter is hooked up backwards?? i looked at it for about an hour, and could not figure out how to get it right?????

Any ideas what could be wrong??


I bought the boat used, and just got it working..

1986 85HP Force Outboard


Thanks Guy's
 

captbjack

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
91
Re: I go forward, boat goes backwards??? shifter help !!!

ok....LOL....

got the boat on the river for the first time today, puled the controll /throttle lever backwards to put it in reverse to back of the trailer, and i go forward??????? was pretty funny to my passenger at first LOL.

Basically the shifter is hooked up backwards?? i looked at it for about an hour, and could not figure out how to get it right?????

Any ideas what could be wrong??


I bought the boat used, and just got it working..

1986 85HP Force Outboard


Thanks Guy's
have you took control box out, there should be a place on the opposite side to hook shifter cable .
 

Randal106

Seaman
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
56
Re: I go forward, boat goes backwards??? shifter help !!!

have you took control box out, there should be a place on the opposite side to hook shifter cable .

ill give it a look tomorrow. i have the kind with the silver button on it for "Fast Idle"
 

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: I go forward, boat goes backwards??? shifter help !!!

People! Please don't keep me guessing!

Silver button---White Chrysler control box?

If so, these boxes were designed to be used on either side of the boat. Look in the back. Shift linkage is the larger arm with two holes, below the throttle arm. The throttle arm should be pointed directly forward in neutral.

Now bear with me, it's been a long time since I opened one but I believe the shift arm should be pointed down in neutral and should move forward when control a handle is pushed to forward position. Or is it backward? Oh S##t---senior moment. At any rate, it is mounted on a square ended shaft. remove the center bolt and washer and flip it over 180 degrees. That should solve the problem.
 

Randal106

Seaman
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
56
Re: I go forward, boat goes backwards??? shifter help !!!

Silver button---White Chrysler control box?

Yes..

I took it off the boat last night, and the shifter arm is pointed upwards, I moved the shifter arm to the down position. 180* from where it was.

logic tells me that will fix it, but the screws holding the shift cable to the box are rusted so i cant move the shifter from the top hole to the bottom hole :(

But ill get it this evening.

Thanks frank.
 
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