Patent ID: 7125296

Claim:
A forward/backward gear shifting mechanism for an outboard engine, comprising: an operating cable passed through an outer pipe, the outer pipe fixed to a stationary member of an engine unit, where the stationary member is stationary relative to the engine unit, and the engine unit is included in the outboard engine tiltable about a tilting axis, and the operating cable extending from an external position in front of the engine unit into the engine unit to transmit operating force applied to an operating member disposed outside the engine unit; a shift rod for shifting a forward/backward gear included in a propulsion unit; a driving member operatively connected to the shift rod to drive the shift rod; and a transmission mechanism linked to the operating cable to transmit the operating force to the driving member; wherein the transmission mechanism includes an input member that receives the operating force from the operating cable, the operating cable is connected to the input member of the transmission mechanism by a linking member, a first connecting member connecting the input member and the linking member is nearer to the stationary member than a second connecting member connecting the operating cable and the linking member.