help! new old boat owner; how do i drive this?

[broken08]

Hello!
experienced sailor new to the motorboat scene. I got a 1978 larson all american open bow with a merc 165 i/o.
I am mechanically experienced...
I got the engine running pretty smooth and the prop turns and trim mostly works, but my main question is that i'm not sure if it ever gets in to reverse or neutral. wife says she never sees it stop and reverse.
with muffs on the driveway, should the prop always be spinning? I feel like there should be a way to stop it. also, not sure if it stops and reverses when i move the lever to reverse. My buddy's boat has a neutral button, mine doesn't, I think.
There seems to be a slider kind of like an old headlight switch at the bottom of the lever which is not fully seated and i can see it is out by a few threads but it doesn't budge in any direction. I can kind of slide the whole throttle lever in and out on it's bushing, but again, no change.
any thoughts here?
anyone else actually have a similar boat?
thanks in advance, I am an active forum user.

 

[broken08]

Re: help! new old boat owner; how do i drive this?

anybody?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: help! new old boat owner; how do i drive this?

OK try this: With the engine OFF. Shift into forward. By hand the prop should spin clockwise, and lock when you turn it counterclockwise. Shift to neutral, should spin freely either direction. Reverse spin freely counterclockwise lock clockwise. Give it a try and let us know how you make out.

 

[broken08]

Re: help! new old boat owner; how do i drive this?

will try, thanks.
anyone else?

 

[no704]

Re: help! new old boat owner; how do i drive this?

On my '86 bayliner v/p there is also no neutral button, you pull the hole lever outward and this is the neutral ****. This must be done when the throttle lever is in neutral (vertical) position. Good luck!