25 Merc outboard hard to shift into reverse

[night]

I have a three year old 25 Mercury Seapro that does not want to shift into reverse sometimes. If I turn the propeller by hand a little it will pop into reverse easily. Is it something that I can repair myself?

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Rule of thumb, never shift any motor that's not running especially without out kicking the prop, bumping the key, or pulling the rope! You risk binding something up by trying to mesh your clutch dog into a gear that not lined up because the drive shaft is not turning, which normally falls right into place when the motor is running... But if tiller, the stainless shaft with a crosshatch in the handle itself wipes out the plastic sleeve which turns the the plastic hub that drives the two control cables which end up on the strbd side of the motor. You can rough up the metal and plastic,clean and re epoxy with locktite plastic epoxy. Also dont be scared to check the cable pulleys... A couple of bolts,washers and keep an eye out for the detent ball and spring. If the cams are a little loose, they will bind up, so pulling it apart,checking things out and greasing, proved that the detent ball and binding cams and pulleys make the shifting stiff! Dont shift your motor while not running or kicking the prop!

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But if you feel your tiller handle is not slipping, and shifts forward and reverse fine while running or kicking prop... Your fine!