Stuck in reverse

[The Force power]

1990 Force 90 HP
The what happened;
Wife drove the boat & according to her it got stuck in reverse.
The control are in Neutral can be put in forward and rev. up but stays going in reverse.
The control can not be put in reverse only neutral and forward.
I was not there & have not inspected it to see what is going on??
So I want to bring up the necessary parts I might need.
The question;
- Did the cotter-pin fall out of the shift-shaft?
- Did the shifter-cable break?

 

[Nordin]

Both are possible, but check the coupler for the remote cable to the shift lever.
If the stop nut has come loose the coupler might "thread off",
I have had that issue at a 45Hp Chrysler but I think it was the throttle coupler.
It was at least 10 years ago so do not remember in detail, now I always tight the stop nuts with tools, not only by my fingers.

 

[puffitu]

I periodically check the stop nuts as I had a similar issue a couple years back; tighten with a wrench. The cotter pin may have fallen off but then I don’t think you’d be able to shift at all..also check control ends at the helm; any looseness would prevent correct travel of the cables as you move the lever all in my perspective

 

[puffitu]

Have you serviced the lower unit recently and maybe not aligned/checked everything prior to the wife driving it?

 

[The Force power]

I periodically check the stop nuts as I had a similar issue a couple years back; tighten with a wrench. The cotter pin may have fallen off but then I don’t think you’d be able to shift at all..also check control ends at the helm; any looseness would prevent correct travel of the cables as you move the lever all in my perspective

Hey Puff,
The lower-unit has not been off and the shifter moves only into neutral & forward but jammed in reverse.
The LU stays in reverse

 

[puffitu]

Hey Puff,
The lower-unit has not been off and the shifter moves only into neutral & forward but jammed in reverse.
The LU stays in reverse

Shifter rod may need adjustment or someone unscrewed that pesky pin

 

[The Force power]

Shifter rod may need adjustment or someone unscrewed that pesky pin

NOOOO, not the pin. That is covered with silicone
I made that mistake lol but it was interesting to take it all apart

 

[jerryjerry05]

The shift rod into the lower unit: it may be locked in place by crud/ corrosion.
The metal around the seal corrodes and swells locking the rod in place.
Unhook the linkage at the cable end, manually move the shift linkage( you need to spin the prop as you try to shift.
The linkage should move fairly easy when shifting by hand.
Or try undo the linkage at the lower and again try the shift rod as you turn the prop(need pliers to move the rod)(don't scar the rod)
Remember to spin the prop as you shift.