need help with shift linkage on yamaha 25hp 2 stroke, urgent

[rosscopeeko]

Today i replaced my water pump impeller in my 2005 yamaha 25hp 2 stroke. I bought this boat and motor a few months back and hadn't taken it out yet. I started it in my yard on muffs and it ran great and shifted fine. Well, after i took the lower unit off and disconnected the shift linkage in the process, upon reassembly my motor has a hard time finding neutral. When i start it in neutral the prop spins as if in forward. I've played with the adjustments on the shift linkage collar and i have it maxed out, as in longest couple, and i've run out of adjustment before the collar won't grab on the other end of the shift linkage. There is one other adjustment on the shifter handle, and that one is adjusted out too. I need to get this thing working by friday as we are heading out on a boat camping trip. Is there something easy i'm missing? If i fine tune the shift handle i can get it to stay in neutral, but only after it grinds getting it there. I want it to find neutral in it's proper spot, as in where it just pops in there. Can someone help? I might have to take it in if i can't get this figured out by tomorrow.

[99yam40]

Pull the lower unit again and put both the lower unit and the con*****er in neutral before reinstalling it.
This maybe a major problem because you have messed up all the adjustments already

[rosscopeeko]

When the shifter is in neutral it's very difficult to get to the locking collar on the shift linkage. I had to have the shifter in reverse to expose it enough to get a wrench on it. I'll try what you suggested tomorrow morning. Any other tips?

[rosscopeeko]

This is a tiller motor. I never had this problem on my 15 and 8hp yamahas.

[99yam40]

When the shifter is in neutral it's very difficult to get to the locking collar on the shift linkage. I had to have the shifter in reverse to expose it enough to get a wrench on it.

Then put them both in reverse.
That new of a motor and it still has the collar nut?
I would have thought it had the spline shaft like my 40

[rosscopeeko]

Yeah still a collar nut design. I did that when i first installed it yesterday after the leg was off. Both in reverse, and for some reason it's just not lining up right. It acts as though it hard to find neutral, going from forward to reverse. One more try this morning.

[rosscopeeko]

Got it fixed. The problem was that the lower unit shift rod would creep up to the nuetral position without constant pressure on it. I had it in reverse before, but once i moved the lower unit up onto the mid position of the motor it would pop up. Figured it out and now i'm running like new. Trick was reverse on the shift linkage, and a positive reverse on the lower unit shift shaft. Thanks for the advice 99yam.

[2104frontier]

I have a 2005 25 4stroke with same problem do you have to pull the lower unit and reinstall to get the shifter adjustment to work correctly?

[99yam40]

start a new thread with your info