Hm-m-m, cranks but won’t start but starts with a rope. That’s a bit unusual. Does it seem to be cranking at least 200 RPM? They won’t have spark if cranking too slow. And yes you can achieve 200 RPM with a rope. Check the spark while electric cranking spark plugs in) It should throw a 7/16" spark with ease. Don’t get hooked up with that spark or it will knock you right out of your shorts.

Don’t fear the "electric" shift. It isn’t electric shift anyway–it’s Hydro-Electric shift. It actually shifts by hydraulic (oil) pressure. The electric part only directs the oil flow from a pair of valves. The two problem areas are dirty, contaminated oil and the usual electrical problems like rotted wires, bad connections and failure of the shift switch in the remote control. I hate to admit it, but the Johnson switch is better than the Evenrude one. Yes, it is supposed to go into forward gear if not running (or failure of the system).

amuller, I understand what you are saying, but you got the wrong motor. This one has the Mag CD. No "amplifier" and no longer any problem getting enough voltage to it. The Mag CD generates its own voltage, that’s why it has to be cranking >200 RPM.

I don’t see where the OP said he is having any problem with the shift, except for it popping into forward gear when not running—which it is supposed to do. When it stops. the oil pump stops, and there is no hydraulic pressure to hold it in neutral (or reverse) so it defaults to forward gear.