Control Cable adjustments don't hold

[mbradley]

I am having issues with my control cables and would like to see if any of y?all have suggestions. Here is the problem? I replaced the control cables on my 20? cuddy with a ?98 130 Johnson; I am 99% sure that I got the correct replacement cables and the existing control box is for Johnson engines. After making the adjustments on the shift cable at the engine, I am able to smoothly shift between drive (F and R) and neutral with the engine off and with the engine running with engine muffs. When I get to the ramp, the engine smoothly goes into R to back off the trailer and then F to head to where ever I am going. At this point I am no longer able to find N? I need to slam back in R to get out of F and then hope that N appears to get out of R (or I shut off the engine and N appears again while the engine is off). I have done this twice and had the same result both times. The second time I tried this, when I would find N after being in gear, my RPMs shoot up to about 1700-2000 and then settle down to 1100-1200 (The engine is idling high but it was doing this [idling high] before I replaced the control cables but the RPMs were not surging in N). Can anyone make any suggestions?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Control Cable adjustments don't hold

you first have to get your idle corrected what are you idle rpms, in forward. at present. you idle has to be set in gear in the water. proper connection is to place the controller in neutral, and engine in neutral, and throttle all the way to idle stop. then you adjust the trunion nut so that the cable connects without any movement of the connections. if you move the motor of cable the connection will not be correct. set idle speed with the throttle cable disconnected and then adjust the cable.

keep doing what you are doing, and you will be rebuilding a lower unit, if the damage is not already done.

idle in gear should be 650-750 rpms/

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Control Cable adjustments don't hold

Daddy's right. You have to get your idle squared away first. The engagement lugs on an outboard gear have a 3* angle cut. The theory is that the more rpm you apply, the more they are pressured to stay engaged. If it's idling too high you can tear up your control box trying to get it out of gear and tear up the gears getting it into gear.