Hard and sloppy shifting on OMC 800 stringer.

[rs2k]

This shifting problem has made for some embarrassing moments at the dock. The problem is that it is hard to shift into reverse on the outdrives and neutral tends to move past the correct neutral point on the shift converter. I have to go past the neutral detent on the remote control to put it into neutral when leaving forward and reverse. I removed the control cables from the throttles and the shifter acts the same. When I remove all the cables from the engines and outdrives the control box moves nice and smooth as it should. I have isolated the problem to the shift converter or outdrive.

Do you think tanking the shift converter apart and lubricating it would be a good idea? How about replacing the tensioner pawl springs?