The fact that the engine doesn't stumble makes me think he has an electrical
problem. I believe there are 2 or 3 micro switches that cause the ECM, if
that's the proper term, to make the engine fire on half the cylinders. It
should be possible to check these components without actually having to
shift the drive. Cable or stern drive component problems would probably
cause things like falling out of gear, failing to go into gear, clutch
grinding etc.
I agree that a competent OMC guy should look at the problem.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 7 Apr 2007 05:10:04 -0700, wrote:

Any suggestions would be appreciated befoe I have to drive it down
island to another shop. The boat is located in Morehead City, NC.

It could be either the module or the cable, but I would suspect the
module first as the problem is intermittent - or so I understood.

I second Eisboch - you need to take it to somebody who works on OMC.
There aren't a lot of those mechanics left.