Controller

debsc

Recruit
Joined
Sep 21, 2002
Messages
5
I recently purchased a 1971 Starcraft with an 1980 70HP Mariner outboard on the back. The controller is a Mariner, but I can't say model or age. It has one large lever on the left and a smaller lever on the right. I have taken the boat out twice and I am still learning how the controller works. The left lever (the shift) conrols, forward, reverse, and seutral, and how fast in forward and reverse you go. The right lever (the throttle) seems to control the speeds attainable when the left lever in in various positions of forward (or reverse). I only recently found out that the throttle had to be straight up (vertical), while the shift was in neutral go get the motor to turn over and not die.<br /><br />So the problem I seem to be having with the controller, i'm not sure if it's because I'm still learning how it works, or if there's a problem with it. So here's the problem: Taking the boat out the second time, I was able to reach max speed I think with the motor, and it ran beautifully. But coming back, we had trouble bringing it out of idle speed (we had to slow down for a historic site), namely being able to reach max speed with the left lever all the way forward, even when the throttle was vertical (full throttle?). THe engine made a clicking noise and then seemed to go into a lower gear. <br />Once we had the left lever all the way forward, we moved the throttle all the way back. Tring to bring it forward to increase out speed, it kept stalling out. But we could restart the engine fine. We just could reach full potential of the engine.<br /><br />I'm hoping womeone can tell me how this type of controller works- ie when do you adjust th throttle, and what positions does the shift have to be in when doing so etc. I can't find any instructions anywhere for actual operation of this type of controller. If I really understood how it worked and how to operate it, I could determine whether the probem i'm having was operator error, or a problem with the controller.<br /><br />Thanks, Deb
 

jhreed

Seaman
Joined
Aug 24, 2002
Messages
66
Re: Controller

On my 1972 Merc controler, the left tall handle is the shift-forward/reverse/neutral lever and the right hand Flat lever seems to be for setting the idling speed while warming up. It should always be left in the down-flat position when one is warmed up and running. Hope this helps you... J. Reed.
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
17,651
Re: Controller

I also have a Mariner. Mine is a '86 model. Your shift levers, are the big one which switches gears and the small one is just a fast idle lever for warm ups. It is not suppose to move while the motor is in gear and if your motor is in neutral with the smaller lever up, then you are not suppose to be able to put motor in gear with other lever. If you can move both at the same time, then sounds like to me your control box is bad or something is loose or broke inside.
 

debsc

Recruit
Joined
Sep 21, 2002
Messages
5
Re: Controller

Thanks for the info! Trying to move that warmup lever while the shift was in gear was likely why it would then try to stall out.<br /><br />However, during our return trip, we drove most of the way with the left lever all the way forward, and the right lever all the way down,, and were not able to reach the same speed we had at the beginning of our trip. Maybe only half that speed or less, but more than an idle, because we were able to get back. <br /><br />Does this sound like a controller or an engine problem? Note that the engine seemed to run great on our way up the river at full speed. Could it be a problem related to temperature of the engine?<br /><br />We had someone who did the points and plugs and rebuild the carborators later drive the boat for a short trip before returning her to us. He drove it about an hour and said it ran great, no problems. This is about how long our way up the river lasted. So he may not have had it running long enough to have the same problem, or may not have had to change speed as much as we did (there were several historic sites we had to slow down to idle for). <br /><br />Any ideas about a problem that seems to not immediately occur, but perhaps when the engine is hot- cannot reach full speed even when I believe we were operating the controller properly? But the engine ran great for an hour or more up the river (before we stopped to fish and then returned back).<br /><br />Any thoughts would be appreciated, Deb
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Controller

Sounds like you need to adjust the throttle cable at the engine, as you are not getting full throttle when you have the control lever at the full forward position. Put the throttle Lever (Big One) as far as it will go in forward. Look into the Carborator throats and see it if the Throttle Plates are wide open(Should be in a perfect horizontal position). If they are not, you need to adjust the throttle cable until they are wide open. Could also be you are due to replace the throttle Cable, as it may have streached over they years and may not be able to open the Carb. Plates all the way. That would explain your having to also use the fast idle lever to gain speed in forward, as it would take up the "Slop" in the Cable!
 
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