Mercury 200 Outboard shift linkage problems

[angterry]

I need help! just bought this boat and the first time on the water I had problems. The boat goes into reverse fine and neutral fine. When I go into forward, I have to "floor it" to get it to go. If I try to ease it, the motor just bucks and shakes real bad like it is kind of in gear, but not all the way. Had an evenrude before and it had thumb screw adjustments on the shift linkage, but this doesn't. It is a '97 200. Any solutions?