reverse problems

[slimpikens]

I have a 02 basstracker with a 25hp mercury for some reason today i could not get it in reverse the controller would not go in the reverse position i get it home and now it works anyone know what could be causeing this

 

[huntinfool]

Possibly a cable that is getting close to failing.
Sometimes they just need to be adjusted.

 

[KMixson]

Is the engine getting down to a a low idle far enough to shift into reverse? You can't shift into reverse unless the linkage is at the point where it will let you shift.

 

[haymon]

I had a similar problem awhile back and I found that the shift cables were under the fuel tank. I think that it put them into a bind when I tried to shift.