I haven’t got my model year/serial book handy…(you guys really gotta get used to posting serial numbers for Mercs, please) but this should be it, more or less.

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/mercu … ft-linkage

Now, do you mean the brass barrel is not attached to the motor or it is not even on the cable end? If not on the cable end, you may have a 33C type cable that is missing a part. This would be Morse or Teleflex, not Mercury. Mercury’s barrels don’t come off the cable without being cut off.

If not attached at the motor, way down in the lower cowl, port side, there should be two cross mounted sliding levers, number 35 in the picture. They slide through the cable barrels then turn 90 degrees to lock in place with spring tension.

Although the picture reference number is different for that serial range, the part number and general idea are the same. Yours should be that way. They are a little tricky to hook up but you’ll get the idea when you see it.

My back hurts just thinking about putting a 500 in a truck, these days.