Motor not going in reverse

[Glavini]

I have a Mercury 1980 80hp outboard that I just installed on my pontoon boat. I had to replace the cables so am wondering this has anything to do with it. When in neutral the prop rotates freely in both directions. When in forward it rotates clockwise (there is a clicking noise) and locked in the other direction. When in reverse it also just spins freely in both directions. I'm hoping this is fixed by making some adjustments.....if so what would my first step be....what should the location of the cables be when in reverse

 

[flyingscott]

The shifter cable will move backwards and forwards the throttle cable only moves in one direction check your cables.

 

[Chris1956]

When in neutral, the shift slider will be in about the center of its available travel. In forward the shift slider will be closer to the front of the motor. In reverse the shift slider will be near the back limit of it's travel.

BTW - Scott is suggesting you have the shift and throttle cables reversed.

 

[Glavini]

Just checked. They are in the right spot. I took the cable out and manually put it in reverse. The prop is now locked both ways. Is this the way it should be or should it be spinning counter click wise and locked going clockwise?

 

[Glavini]

Could it be the controller? I took a video of it, it seems as if it starts and then won't go back and further.
https://youtu.be/ehfwZHoq1is

 

[flyingscott]

The controller seems to be working fine did you adjust the cables. Your controller goes to reverse enough and i am guessing you stopped it short in forward.

 

[Glavini]

I did adjust cables a little to see if it would work. it only goes forward that much unless I press the throttle button and then it goes down farther. It seems like the cable isn't able to push it back into reverse though. Not sure if that makes sense but when I did it manually there was more resistance going into reverse than there was forward.

 

[flyingscott]

It needs to go much farther in forward did it work before you changed the cables.

 

[Glavini]

It did, i'll adjust everything back again tomorrow and see if I can get it to work. I think I can tighten up the cables so there isn't any play when I pull it by hand.

 

[flyingscott]

I think your cables are wrong in the box. I have a similar box both cables come in on the bottom. The cable that is higher is your problem relocate it down next to the other cable I am guessing that is the shifter cable. Behind the plate you will see a place to connect it that will be where your shifting cable hooks up. If you watch the cam you can see it moves forward and back for the shifter.

 

[Glavini]

any chance you have a picture? When I replaced them, I took out one at a time and put the new one in before the second cable came in......but I guess its not to say that the old owner didn't put them in wrong. I'll see if there's a spot for the cable to be relocated. Thank you

 

[flyingscott]

Sorry i do not have a picture But yours are correct sorry mine were on a smaller motor I found a picture on you tube so your right. You just need to figure out what you did because if it worked before it should work now

 

[flyingscott]

I know what you did I have a box rigged like that took me a while to find it . On the bottom cable when it is in neutral under the spring you see the tab behind the cable. The pin needs to run through that also once you make that connection you will have your full shift. Sorry about the bad info on the cables that is the only thing bad i can say about merc they really had no standardization on the shifter.

 

[Glavini]

That was it! Once I put the pin in everything worked as it should. Thanks for the help!