Throttle Control is difficult to engage

[WindInDaFace]

Hi all,

I noticed a couple of things this past weekend that didn't seem right on my in-laws 18' glastron ski boat (mercruiser I/O). After scouring other posts here I think I found the answer to one of the issues (faulty neutral safety switch) which was why sometimes the boat would appear to have no battery juice when the throttle only button was pressed and the key is turned to start the motor. Although, I'm not sure that is exactly the issue since it occurs sometimes when the throttle only is disengaged and the key is turned. This makes me think it might be a wiring or ignition switch issue.

The other issue is that the control arm itself is hard to engage into gear (forward or reverse) and even after the transmission is successfully in forward or reverse, the control arm seems overly tight and difficult to advance. I was hoping this might just be lack of lubrication somewhere or some type of tension adjustment in the throttle arm?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[gadget73]

Re: Throttle Control is difficult to engage

Sounds like there are two seperate things here. There should be a neutral safety switch inside the shift mechanism. This cuts power to the starter only when the shifter is in gear. If its cutting all power, it may be wired improperly.

The stiff throttle sounds like a bad throttle cable to me. Usually they get really hard to operate when the cable wears. How old is the boat?

 

[WindInDaFace]

Re: Throttle Control is difficult to engage

Thanks for the reply Gadget!

I assumed that because I always crank the boat using the throttle only button this may have had something to do with it. After thinking about it some more, I'm wondering if it's the actual ignition assembly that might be going bad or has some loose connections since the gauges don't show battery power both when the throttle only button is pushed and when it is not. However, from your description it sounds like the neutral safety switch shouldn't engage when the throttle only is engaged. I'll bring a multi-meter out to the lake this weekend and test the connections.

I'm not sure if the cable has ever been replaced but the boat is probably a 93' or 94'. Are there any indicators other than the stiffness of the control arm that I should look for?

 

[michaeli84]

Re: Throttle Control is difficult to engage

Thanks for the reply Gadget!

I assumed that because I always crank the boat using the throttle only button this may have had something to do with it. After thinking about it some more, I'm wondering if it's the actual ignition assembly that might be going bad or has some loose connections since the gauges don't show battery power both when the throttle only button is pushed and when it is not. However, from your description it sounds like the neutral safety switch shouldn't engage when the throttle only is engaged. I'll bring a multi-meter out to the lake this weekend and test the connections.

I'm not sure if the cable has ever been replaced but the boat is probably a 93' or 94'. Are there any indicators other than the stiffness of the control arm that I should look for?

i think you should also check your shift interrupt switch i beleive that is what makes the throttle easier to engage its located near the end of the thrittle cable it has a metal flap with a plastic roller on the end and its rectangle shaped with 2 wires

 

[gadget73]

Re: Throttle Control is difficult to engage

Looking for physical damage, especially around bends and near sources of heat is a good idea. For what its worth, I've had to replace all the cables on my 93 within the last 5 years, one broke, the others just got to the point where throttle or shifting was very difficult.