Mercury controls backwards 1972

Hi
I have a merc 200 20hp 1972 sn. 3230259. I have tried a few atempts at
connecting the remote controls to the engine.
Forward is reverse and reverse is foward. I tried two sets of controls.
function is good just backwards.
Jimmy
by the way this is my first post.
Thanx

Re: Mercury controls backwards 1972

It sounds like someone removed the lower unit to replace the water pump parts, and installed it incorrectly. Put motor and control into neutral, drop LU and turn shift shaft until forward gear is CW of neutral. Now reinstall in neutral.

Re: Mercury controls backwards 1972

Hi,

You need to replace two parts in the control box.
1) the round drum. You need the one with the brass roller on it.
2) the shift arm. You need the one that accepts the roller.
These two parts reverses the the way the box shifts.
The problem is that they may not be available anymore. I don't have books
anymore to look up the numbers for you to call a Merc Dealer to check and see
if you can buy them or not.
So you may have to upgrade the control a generation or two. They have the reverse shift built it to the box. Or you can just get used to it the way it works now. This could be confusing if several different people run the boat. So if you use the one you have label it in big letters.

Re: Mercury controls backwards 1972

Thank you everyone.
Corm I think you hit it on the nail. looking inside the control box I looked to
see if I could reverse it or even fabrite from existing parts. no way.
So I thought could there be a reverse cam with roller. Ill have to check to get
the part #
The engine without controls functions perfect (forward reverse lever).

thanx for all your replies.
Jimmy

Now to find Part #s