Thank you for the replies, yes I believe it is a standard Rotating Shaft Shift Linkage. Just one rod moves up and down, at least without going into the gears by the propeller.
This is a great question: Are you sure you are getting F-N-R with the engine off? How did you verify it? If by chance you managed to misalign the upper and lower shift shafts, you might have F-F-N. I think this is where I am screwing up.
It runs fine no noticeable noises or anything in forward and neutral functions correctly. It does not want to shift into reverse and the handle linkage will not go into reverse after it has been run and yesterday after about five shifts having not been run. It would not go into reverse. I have not applied more than basic force since I am sure I am not getting something right and well... don't need to bust it.
It has a metal pin plastic half circle that is inserted into the shifting lever tucked just under the motor, seems to be standard for many small Mercs . I think I am getting it into forward neutral and reverse, the handle moves the shift rod into each position, but that is where I think I am getting it wrong. It Shifts into each F,R N clearly, but when rotating the propeller I only get the click click noise in forward. I think it was free spinning in neutral can check that but no possible movement of the propellor or clicking noise in reverse. Finally, it is a super low hour motor and close to no hour motor, so I am very much suspicious of my mechanic skills vs the motor not being right.
Somehow, I am sure I am doing something "lose reverse".
A video recommended rotating the crank shaft to assure it gets to be correctly positioned, but it seemed to require a lot of force to do so I have not aggressively done that, applied a plyers and it did not want to rotate
I think it is never getting properly setting into reverse, since spinning the propeller I am only getting engagement click noises from forward.
The shift shaft can be pushed down, and it makes a clear engaged reverse clunk like I believe it should and I have tried to and am pretty darn sure it was reattached everything in reverse, and the handle was in reverse but again. It did not keep the abilty to go into reverse gear, and the handle stops being able to move into the revesrse setting. I have done this enough times that I can get it apart and together in 30 40 minutes. But I always lose reverse after shifting a few times or starting the engine.
I am heading off on a big trip to Reindeer Lake in Sask. Canada and reverse would be something that would help. I plan on having two motors, gas tanks, fuel lines complete duplication. Second motor is only a 4 hp but much better than rowing home. Did massive canoeing trips 30 days 25 days traveling up to 650 miles when I was younger, spent well over a year of my life wilderness canoeing. At 60 years old now, the black lab and I are off to hunt ducks, geese cranes (starts Sept 1st up there) and catch big pike and spawning lake trout and go enjoy fall for a couple weeks. Much safer to go to Reindeer lake with a boat as I will be less than an hour from help/fly in lodges and better choice at my age (or actually any age for real wilderness travel - IE not BWCA esp. with a solo trip). Black lab is very good company. Oh ya throw in a 10 ga black power SXS shotgun, as a buddy who is a former marine fighter pilot said, "its like being on a battle ship", lots of smoke, flash and boom, brings the thrill back to duck hunting. It also cuts way down on harvest for one guy IE no triples and very few doubles.
Thanks again.
