Shifting out of neutral issue

[rsatterfield]

All right you experts......finally hit 80 today and I have been prepping since Wednesday to get everything ready for our 1st day out - battery charged, checked fluids, etc. Went to fire it up today after getting battery back in and the throttle lever will not shift from the neutral position. I noticed that the throttle was in the forward position with the "rev button" engaged. Returned to neutral and still won't start. I have power - radio and gauges working fine. When I pull up on the release on the throttle everything seems to be working ok but it will not move forward or backward without pushing in the button on the bottom that allows the engine to rev without engaging the tranny. I checked the forum and have seen some posts on the neutral safety switch but have no idea where it is located or whether it could be the issue. I'm gonna check the kill switch tomorrow morning but am at a loss after that......any ideas???

Really would like to get this resolved so I could get out tomorrow with the forecast in the low 80's again.

Thanks.

[lesman01]

something must have come loose on the button to release the throttle at the top underneath the handle.  I have noticed sometimes on mine i have to "jiggle" the handle so that the ignition will fire when cranking. Sounds like you;ll be taking apart the throttle handle assembly. Check the diagram although it's really crappy: http://www.epicmarine.com/figures/Fig_16.jpg

[rsatterfield]

Thanks for the response. Would this cause it not to even turn over? I'm assuming so if it is not actually in the "true neutral" position.

[lesman01]

Yes, if it's not truly in neutral it will not turn over. no clicking..no nothin.

[rsatterfield]

Thanks for the info. I'll keep you posted as it progresses.

[rsatterfield]

Les, thanks for the input. I finally got some time to get back on this and found the shift linkage was actually out of adjustment. The throttle position appeared to be in neutral but the linkage at the tranny was nowhere close. I took the shifter apart, tightened down the back plate behind the arm rest and re-checked everything. After a little adjustment, everything was back as good as new.