What makes it return to idle?

[steriosm88]

I have a johnson 90 1993 and even after I put the control lever into neutral the motor won't go into idle. Is there a return spring on the throtle linkage that may have broken? Is it the force of the cable returning to the trunion end that pulls the linkage back into idle? When I goose the carbs by hand they return to idle but not with the contol lever. Thanks

 

[bolter15]

Re: What makes it return to idle?

Check that the cable has not come loose from the throttle handle. Remove your engine cowling and move the lever. Does the throttle move exactly as the lever moves?? Or just sort of??? It could be the cable end has let go of the wire and is just binding it enough to get some movement some of the time. If so, Check both ends of the cable to make sure. Dis-assemble your throttle handle enough to see the cable. You might see the wire coming out the end of the slider.

I can't find the advance bell crank on the parts diagram. That is spring loaded on many motors and it could be part of the trouble. I can't see it on the parts diagram.

 

[steriosm88]

Re: What makes it return to idle?

In this pic you can see the black plastic sleeve that is over the cable end that connects to the linkages. In the first pic it shows the cable in neutral but the black plastic sleeve is still extended like it is when it's wot. Is that black plastic end supposed to be fixed to the cable end and has just broken loose?

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/sterios/throtle1.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/sterios/throtle2.jpg
In the second pic it shows the black plastic sleeve at it's idle position when put there by hand. That's the part i'm wondering about. What makes it go back to it's idle spot? Should that be attatched to the cable end some how? When you buy a new cable is that black plastic sleeve permanently mounted to the end of the cable or does it slide back and forth like mine? Thanks for your help.

 

[bolter15]

Re: What makes it return to idle?

You have standard cables. There's a wire that runs inside the cable. And the black plastic slider attaches to the wire, by two little tiny set screws in the end of the slider on cable.

Detatch the cable from the motor at the motor side, and pull on it. Does it come off in your hand?? It shouldn't.

Good news is you have an easy fix here probably. The wire has come free of the screws inside, but it can still push against them, so you can still extend the slider. You just can't draw it back.

Some times the set screws are allen hex style and sometimes they are screws protruding from the sides of the slider. There's a hole in the slider for the wire.

Find the set screws and back them out. Then extend the wire and work it back into place, and then tighten the screws again and you should be good to go.

 

[steriosm88]

Re: What makes it return to idle?

That is exactly the info i'm looking for. Thank you very much. I'll get into it in the morning right after my shift.

 

[steriosm88]

Re: What makes it return to idle?

Turns out the throtle cable had snapped 6 inches into the outer sleeve on the motor end so it would rev up but not go back to idle. I replaced both throtle and gear cables and lubed it all up and it works even better now. The throtle feels nice and smooth now and I adjusted the idle down a bit. Thanks for all your help.