If it is an electric shift drive, you may have did something to the contacts
or mechanism that allows the 12v to switch to the reverse. There is a clutch
coil also on the bottom of the drive, that has a little tab at the end of
it, this is very common to break and you will lose your reverse or forward.
Looks like a slinky, and the last say 1/4inch is bent out and that piece can
break.







"Mike Bailey" wrote in message
...
Hi all, I have a 1958 Skagit runabout, a 14 footer, native to
Washington state. It has a 1966 Merc 65EL, which runs very nicely.

When I got the boat, the previous owner had lifted the control box up
to a point just below deck, so he could sit up on the seat, and look
over the windshield.

This summer, I dismantled the control box, taking care to notice the
order of assembly, and moved it back down to it's factory position.

Everything seemed to work, but I noticed the control does not shift
into reverse. The control lever will move through range of travel, and
throttle will increase, but it feels resistant, and never engages.
What have I done?

Will Arnold be elected?

Hmmm.

Thanks for any responses.

SaxMike