2004 Tohatsu 30 hp 4-stroke no longer shifting

[ssanders14]

Had the boat out last weekend and everything was running well for not having been ran in a while. Get almost back to the ramp and idle down and then shift into neutral as we approach the dock, motor is idling a little high but nothing really out of the ordinary. I go to shift back in forward and it goes into forward but then will not shift out of F. I end up doing a little circle as I had way too much steam going into the dock and had to cut the motor and coast to the dock. I get it home and I get it out of Forward with a pair of pliers on the shift linkage between the lower and upper. I get the cowling off and the shifter is moving as it should but the piece that connects to the shift linkage and down the to lower doesn't move at all. Any ideas on what might have broken?

 

[pvanv]

Do you have an MFS30A or B? Year is irrelevant.
The shift rod may be disengaged from the shift lever shaft.

 

[ssanders14]

I believe I have an MFS30A. How can I check if this became disengages from the shift lever shaft. It appears that the Air Box will have to be removed to access the shift lever shaft.

 

[ssanders14]

I got the shift linkage figured out and have the boat shifting again. I'm not a fan of the design and plastic parts but relieved that it didn't require parts or a trip to the mechanic.

I believe this issue was caused by shifting while the idle was high. The boat only idles high after coming down from a run. If the engine is turned off then restarted it doesn't idle high, only when going from a full throttle run down to Neutral. Any thoughts?