Throttle cable

[FBPirate95]

I've been working on my new to me boat for a couple of months now and pretty much have most things ironed out. What I have noticed recently is that when I lift my fast idle lever, or push the throttle forward, it does not seem to cause the throttle linkage on the the motor move very much. The throttle adjustment seems to be at its fullest extent. Is there some way I can check the throttle cable to see if it is bad?

Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Throttle cable

The fast idle lever and the throttle lever serve two very different functions. The fast idle lever is just that. It allows you to raise the engine speed slightly during warmup. It is not supposed to open the throttle fully. If you've been messing with the throttle cable adjustment trunion you probably have it screwed up. To properly adjust it, disconnect the cable from the engine. Place the throttle/shift lever in neutral and make sure the fast idle lever is fully down. Hold the throttle linkage firmly against the stop on the engine. Now bring the end of the cable up to the attachment point on the the throttle linkage. Do not move the linkage. If the throttle cable does not line up exactly with the attachment point on the linkage, adjust the trunion so it does. Then connect the cable. Thats the only adjustment you have for the throttle cable. Now push the throttle lever all the way forward. The butterflies in the carb should be perfectly horizontal in the carb throat. If not, you now need to do a link&sync for which you will need a service manual specific to your engine. Throttle and ignition timing are synchronized which is what that process does. It is far to long and detailed to outline here -- hence the need for a service manual.

 

[FBPirate95]

Re: Throttle cable

I don't think I have anything out of adjustment. When the throttle lever is in its wide open position, the cable does not push the linkage to its wide open (butterflies horizontal) position. With the lever still wide open I can push the motor end of the cable so that it opens up the throttle linkage. When I return the throttle to idle, the throttle linkage does not go all the way back to its starting position. I assume its a bad cable. Am I correct?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Throttle cable

As I said, you need to do a link&sync. Cable adjustment is the last part of that process. Look at the linkages carefully and you will see that the cable does not operate the throttle butterflies directly. The cable moves the timing advance mechanism which operates a roller which operates the carbs. Upon further examination you should see that all of those linkages are separately adjustable. That is what link&sync in all about.