my buddy has a 1993 24 outlaw 502 mag bravo1 it will not
shift into forward or reverse when not running and shifts hard when running. the cable from the shifter to the linkage is
good and free. it must be the cable from the linkage to the drive
or a problem in the drive. what can i do.

it is not suposed to shift when not running. if you have tried to shift it while not running then you strecthed the cable. you can trie to adjust it underneath the throttle but most likely need a new cable.

Treadwell

I have a 1993 24 Outlaw and it is also hard to shift while running, I would think you might want it to be that way. I think that you really wouldn't want to be able to shift too easily, less room for mistakes, but that is just my opinion.

rssteiny,
I have had problems with the ball detent and spring in the rear cover plate rusted causing shifting to be very hard. As mentioned above it should not be shifted when not running. To check the ball and spring, you just need to remove the rear cover plate. If that is ok you may have bigger problems. I have also had the upper thrust bearing come apart and pieces of the bearing retainer was jamed in the shifter, causing the same symptoms. If this is the case you would find alot of metal in the oil.