linkage or lower unit

[cav103176]

I bout a mercury 800 series 80hp out board<br />moter and its starting in gear in nuetral position and its not engaging in nuetral or reverse. the throttle says nuetral but I dont understand whats going on. If I push throttle forward or reverse it wont turn over but its not supposed to so if I put it in nuetral it starts but the prop turns fast enough to be in gear and wont engage into reverse either. I would appreciate help If possible. thanks<br />Oh yeah I think motor is 1984

 

[TippyCanoe]

Re: linkage or lower unit

Did you check the linkage between the main cam (where the cables come in) and the gear shift cam? I had a similar problem with a 25hp Mercury (1989). The problem was that the hard rubber (or plastic?) snap a the end of the link rod broke and so the engine gears was stuck in gear and could not be shifted (unless I pushed on the gear shift cam manually).