Re: 1985 85 HP Force Throttle Cable adjustment
There are three places to adjust the shift throw. 1. at the quick connect on the engine. 2. under the bottom carb, and 3. the shift rod itself as it exits the lower unit.
Most likely spot to have been disturbed is the quick connect. This threads on the end of the cable and can be adjusted further on or off the threads. I forget which direction will bias it further toward forward, so you would need to experiment. I think you need to back off the threads a little. you can also adjust the threads at the control box. Again, I think lengthening the rod increases forward throw, but I'm not sure so you would need to experiment. I usually start with the connectors on both ends near the middle of the threads and go from there.
Just be sure that when you adjust this, the neutral interlock cams under the bottom carb are even with each other in neutral. These cams keep you from overspeeding the engine in neutral yet allow just enough forward movement to allow fast idle.
You can also bias the shift using the upper shift rod. Under the bottom carb, there are two lock nuts holding the shift rod to the linkage. adjust the nuts so the shift rod is further down in neutral. This will give further travel into forward. Don't go too far--a little goes a long way. Try one turn at a time.
The last adjustment which you should not need to make is the lower shift rod. It should be screwed all the way clockwise then backed out just enough to mate the holes in the connector. If this was out of adjustment, you would have trouble going into reverse.
