Shift cables on a Mercury 1500 not working

[boatingsteve]

I just purchased a boat! Unfortunately I'm new to all this. The engine is a 1970's Mercury 1500 (150hp) and the controller is a Mercontrol. I got it running fine, my issue is that I cannot get forward or reverse to engage. Im not positive on how to manually do it at the engine, but the controls dont look right to me. I uploaded a video of the control to show what I mean. https://youtu.be/MvR3E82A_cw

Also, does the mercontrol have a neutral throttle? From what I can tell you can only put it in gear by pushing the button.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

If you keep punching the button, you will never shift into gear. Push the Neutral Only (the one you're pushing) to disconnect the throttle and shift for high idle when warming up the motor. Put the handle in the neutral position and the button pops out to re-connect the throttle and shifter.

Once the button pops out, push the handle forward and reverse for shifting. Try this before getting carried away with fixing something that make not be broken.

 

[boatingsteve]

That is what I thought, but wasn't sure as this is an older engine than I've driven. When I tried pushing forward without pushing the button, it doesn't budge forward or back. When I did push the button to go into nuetral, it doesn't rev the engine either.

 

[GA_Boater]

Look on the motor where the shift cable is attached and disconnect it. Then see if the cable moves as you push the handle back and forth.

 

[boatingsteve]

I will check that tonight, thanks!

 

[boatingsteve]

Through messing with the cables and whatever else I was working on...it finally went and moves the plate on the bottom of the engine casing which I assume is the gear selection, right? My other question now is what does the top cable do? It is connected to the large black lever that goes to the upper part of the engine. This does not move, is it supposed to? I haven't been able to start again to see if it does now as I have the lower unit off to replace the impeller.

If I push on the lever, the nut that it goes into (where the arrow is pointing) wiggles, but nothing else moves.

Thanks again, someday I'll be an expert I hope!

 

[Chris1956]

The top cable is throttle. That black lever will rotate the distributor. There is a "finger" on the distributor that opens the carbs.

The bottom cable is the shift cable. It should ride on a slider. The center of the slider should be neutral. Forward of the neutral will be forward gear.

When you advance the throttle handle, the shift cable should move first. She will go into forward as you push the throttle handle forward. After some shift cable movement, the throttle cable will pull the throttle open.

If you have them reversed, the motor will rev up in neutral.