another thing to look at is the linkage on the starboard side from the throttle cable to carb...this year I had to re-lube and replace the linkage bushings as they were super stiff which affected shifting and throttling movements..
Thanks cfauvel, I am pretty convinced this is my problem. When I detached the shift cables from the motor linkage, I could not easily rotate the shift shaft - as a matter of fact I couldn't do it by hand. I understand the shift shaft should be easy to move when free of the cables. So I think the shift shaft is bound by the linkage bushings being corroded.
I understand that to get to the shift shaft and the bushing assembly to lube it, I need to take off the lower cowlings. Is there some trick to removing the lower cowlings other than the obvious screws holding the two cowling sides together? I can't find a video or any "how to" on removing those cowlings.
I have access to the exploded assembly drawing from the shop evinrude website. I'd love to post the pic here and look at the part numbers with you, but for some reason this site is still not letting me post pics.
Thanks very much everyone for your advice.
Dave
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