no throttle in reverse

texsun

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
156
My '96 volvo 3.0GS will go into reverse - if you try to throttle up in reverse it will die. Sometimes it will die the second you go to reverse. Sometimes reverse works just fine including reverse and throttle. Works just fine in forward-accelerates and idles no problem - in forward. Reverse is the problem. Thanks for the help!
 

edfresh

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Messages
35
Re: no throttle in reverse

Texsun,<br /><br />I have the same problem on an '87 OMC 4.3L sterndrive. I am assuming it is the throttle/shift control lever. That lever has two cables connected to it; a throttle cable and a shift cable. The shift cable goes in and out to shift from Forward to Neutral to Reverse and vice-versa. The throttle cable is connected to the carb and gives more or less throttle. The control lever's innards must push the throttle cable in/out in the same manner whether it's in forward or reverse. You could easily watch the cable at the carb while an assistant shifts it back and forth. This could be done with the motor off in your driveway. I expect the throttle/shift control lever is faulty.<br /><br />Hope this helps,<br />Ed Freshwater
 

texsun

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
156
Re: no throttle in reverse

Will it damage any of the outdrive if I try the "test shift" in the driveway with the engine off? Secondly is the Shifter serviceable? Can you buy parts, or do you have to buy the entire control including shifter and cables.<br /><br />Thanks for your Help!
 

edfresh

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Messages
35
Re: no throttle in reverse

I don't expect it would damage the gears if you gently shift it. You could have someone rotate the prop a little to help it slip in gear. But what I'd be looking for is the throttle cable moving at the carb when in reverse just like it does when in forward. --- I wasn't able to find any parts and had to buy the complete control (a Morse SL-3)<br /><br />Ed
 

texsun

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
156
Re: no throttle in reverse

Do you think it would help/hurt to spray some wd40 on the backside of the shifter/controller?<br /><br />Mark
 

texomatom

Seaman
Joined
May 13, 2004
Messages
74
Re: no throttle in reverse

Been there done that.<br />You need to adjust your shift cable.<br />This was my first DIY boat repair and the manual I purchased for this job has paid for itself many time over.<br /><br /> http://www.mercstuff.com/images/shiftcable.jpg <br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />For what it's worth, all my cable needed was two turns of the brass barrel to correct my problem. I followed the complete procedure, but htis was the only adjustment necessary.<br /><br />Tom
 
Top