78 MT v180, not shfting right

[hpcma1]

i have forward no reverse, and then it clinks until it clunks into forward. at a speed to fast to safely go onto a trailer i have no "no wake" speed. then today i tried adjusting it, and then i got reverse but then no forward, or should i be doing this on water? every marina, said the boats to old to touch so im kinda screwed here? one guy said it was the shift cam, even though i told him i didnt know crap about adjusting thse cables. ive read a few diagrams, but they say stuff about barrles on the lines. i only have 1 barrel and it doesnt spin, and thats on the line going to the outboard...i can manualy shift it nto reverse and forward with my hands, if the shift cable is disconeccted????

 

[Chris1956]

You should have black plastic barrels on the shift and throttle cables. These will be under the cowling. The barrels lock into the shift and throttle cable clamps. To adjust the shift cable, remove the throttle cable, and both barrel nuts. Now move the shift slider to the center of it's travel. Now check the motor to see that it is in neutral. If so, set the throttle handle on the control to neutral, and adjust the shift barrel to fit the shift clamp. That should do it.