Don White wrote:
I just bought a boat with a 1998 Johnson outboard and we just launched
her.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
Bill Grannis
service manager

My Evinrude manual warns not to shift gears unless the motor is running.
(exception is to shift back into neutral)
Wonder if that could be cause of problems?

....hmm could be. does it state the result of shifting while NOT running?