Outboard engine intermittent lock in gear?

[C08]

This has happened twice now. Each time the remote control is totally locked but when the engine is switched off the gears return to normal.
I am assuming something has become loose with the control cables in the remote or other end but maybe something more worrying.
I had to leave the boat as the tide was ebbing so no time to investigate - any ideas welcomed on this. Engine is a 3 year old Yamhaha 25 hi thrust motor.

 

[C08]

Thinking further; at half throttle the gear cable is not actuated only the throttle so perhaps my description "stuck in gear" is not correct as the throttle only may be stuck. I am still totally puzzled and will get the remote control unit apart tomorrow as a start. I hope someone has some expert ideas or encouragement on this as I have always found the fora to be immensely helpful when dealing with unusual technical issues, which this woud seem to be.

 

[C08]

I am surprised that nobody has an idea of what my problem might be-there is rarely anything completely new. Anyway when (if) I find the problem I will post on here in the hope it might help someone sometime. My suspicion or hope is that a C clip has come off the throttle cable end and that is half on and half off the pin and perhaps jamming on the pin end from the gear cable. I just hope it is not a gearbox problem that would finish the season for me.

 

[KevinV]

I'm guessing people were waiting to hear whether it's actually sticky throttle, or sticky gearbox? I know I was.