Hello - I have a 1985 Mericruiser on my Pleasurecraft and I am having intermitant shifting trouble. Sometimes I can shift, and other times I can't get it out of fwd. A friend told me it was probably the microswitches to the shifter. I looked at them and played with the shifter and I can't really tell if they are fully being switched when I manipulate the lever...but before I pull them apart (all the wires are soldered on the switches) I wanted to see if anyone has had this trouble before and has any other ideas...
Thanks - I'm dead in the water!

This is a common problem. Google "Mercruiser shift adjustment"

You need to get this fixed before you tear up the lower unit.

I would guess it would be the lower shift cable going south or micro switch adjustments. You should really let a mercruiser mechanic straighten out this problem for you.

I have had several of these and as OHB stated ity could be many things. Get a Merc man on it.