1972 Mercury 500 (50hp) shifting backwards

Beard22

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Jul 1, 2013
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So I got the boat this year and had to replace the impeller. Got the new impeller in and put the L/U back on the way i thought i taken it apart. Tried taking the boat on the water and to get the boat to go forward i had to push the control all the way foward which im sure isnt right because pulling the control right back opens the motor right up. Im fairly new to outboard motors and boats, so ive been trying for days to figure this out. Are my controls backwards or have i put something together wrong... any help is appreciated..
 

GA_Boater

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Re: 1972 Mercury 500 (50hp) shifting backwards

Does the motor rev up before it goes in gear?

I have no idea what you mean with this.

pulling the control right back opens the motor right up.
 

Beard22

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Re: 1972 Mercury 500 (50hp) shifting backwards

Yea my explanation was pretty bad.. when i put the boat in reverse, the boat goes forward.. and when i try to go forward the boat goes backwards..
 

Beard22

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Re: 1972 Mercury 500 (50hp) shifting backwards

Also no.. the throttle is working as it should..
 

GA_Boater

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Re: 1972 Mercury 500 (50hp) shifting backwards

So pushing the control forward, you go forward. And pulling the control back, you go reverse. Is that right?
 

GA_Boater

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Re: 1972 Mercury 500 (50hp) shifting backwards

I'm missing something. That's entirely normal.
 
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