tedheath wrote:
Have 1992 50 hp, fitted new water pump and it wont select reverse.
Tried adjusting cable and finger thing that selects gear range but to
no avail.
Can get reverse with leg off by moving selector shaft with a long screw
driver.
Also by screwing a long 5/16" unf bolt into the finger thing can pull
bolt up and it goes into reverse.
But when I assemble the leg it wont select reverse.
Thanks for any help you can give.

Disconnect the shift cable at the outboard, usually just a clip.
Unscrew the nut that connects the lower shift rod to the mid section
until they are not connected and continue until the nut is flush with
the rod. Now put the lower in neutral by moving the lower shift rod
until you feel the prop is in neutral. Now put the midsection in
neutral by moving the linkage in the cowling until you find the neutral
detent. It should have three postions, forward, neutral, and reverse.
Neutral is the center and you should feel it kinda of click in and stay
there. Once your lower is in neutral and your midsection linkage is in
neutral then thread the nut back to connect the two rods. Center the
nut so that it has an equal amount of threads of each rod and tighten
the lock nut. Now your outboard linkage is set, now you have to
connect your shift cable. First make sure your control box is in
neutral and then go back and adjust your cable at the motor until the
mounting point and the end hole lines up with your linkage and
reinstall clip. Now verify your shifting by putting the control box
through all the shift positions and verifing it at the prop. Sounds
complicated but is really an easy setup.