Throttle lever binding when engaging fwd

Just took my 86 SN2001 out today and as soon as unloading from the trailer I had an issue engaging the trans in fwd. Last weekend control movement was smooth/easy, but now the lever moves freely in neutral (fwd or backward) and engages reverse easily, but seems to be binding when pushed fwd with the neutral button pushed in- It will engage in fwd, but requires much more force then normal. I disconnected from shift lever at trans and the shift lever on the trans operates freely so I guess it is either in the control or the cable. My next step will be to disconnect the trans cable so I can isolate the problem, btu I ran out of time today and the boat is an hour away, so I am left to only "gameplan" online- Has anyone else already had a similar problem?

There is enough resistance in fwd to make it almost impossible to idle fwd since the force required to engage will cause me to "overshoot" idle up to about 25% throttle causing many unsafe jumps when trying to engage fwd gear.

I just had my Morse control apart, and it's one hefty piece of stainless steel parts. Probably will outlast the boat.
Try disconnecting the throttle cable at the carb. It's a spring loaded clip over a ball, justs pulls away when you push the clip aft. See if it lines up with the lever in neutral. It should. You can adjust it at the brace with the u shaped holder. You should be able to pull or push the cable in or out of it's housing if the cable is not bad or jammed.
Since it worked fine before, I would check to see if the bolts holding the inside and outside parts of the Morse control are tight. If one backs out, it can jam against the shift or throttle levers. You may need to remove the drivers seat to get your head under there. You'll need 5/16, 3/8 and 7/16 sockets. It's not impossible to reach, just difficult. Try not to bleed on the carpet.

The thing that makes me think that it is not the cable is how it is fine going into reverse- and after thinking about it some more: I did have the rear center floorboard out before putting the boat in the water- which makes me think that maybe that board (and thus the engine cover) is sitting a little too far forward and the engine cover may be binding the shift lever on the trans.....maybe...trying to remeber if it seemed to work fine with engine cover open.

Yep if you have never changed the cables it is probably time after 25 years.

Call 318-386-2825.......Ask for Billy(A.K.A. The Doc) or Karen.