Mercury 200 20hp Gears Switched, can I run it?

[Dutch13693]

I have a 1975 Merc 200, 20 hp outboard that goes forward when the shift lever is placed in the reverse position, and goes reverse in forward. It runs fine otherwise. I guess it got switched somehow when the impeller was replaced. Will it hurt anything to run it like that?

 

[Jeff_G]

Re: Mercury 200 20hp Gears Switched, can I run it?

Don't know how you did it but if it is truly using reverse gear to go forward then yes it must be fixed. The bearing carrier can't take the stresses.