OMC control box / throttle

[Jquest]

ok...I haven't used my boat in like a month so today I fired it up( first time in two weeks). I run 50/1 carb'd so I crank it up regularly in order to keep the carbs clean. Anyway...today I crank it up and fine no problem. I shut it down and decide to throw it into gear. I do that once in a while to make sure everything is ok. Anyway....today I noticed I had play in the shifter and it's barely getting into forward gear. I had my daughter slowly move the throttle forward while I held the shaft( turning it) to see when it finally went into forward gear. <br />Eveything looks fine on the engine part of the linkage. Both wheels on the linkage were tight and the screw that holds them in place was tight. Is there something in the control box that could of gone bad? Basically,if you have it in the neutral position ( we'll call it 0 degrees) and move it forward...you have like a 10 to 15 degree play forward before the linkage decides to move forward. Same in reverse. As I moved it back and forth...I noticed the play got less ,but it was still too much. Any ideas my brothers???

 

[MCM]

Re: OMC control box / throttle

You haven't told us what year the motor is but I'd hazzard a guess and say excessive play in the throttle/shift cable, try having your daughter do the same thing only this time watch the cable and shift linkage to see when the shift rod actually shifts into gear at the motor. The same adjustments that can be made to the cable at the motor end can also be made in the control box as well as I recall.

 

[Jquest]

Re: OMC control box / throttle

2001 V6 60 degree 150Johnson. THe box is the original one that came with the boat.<br />The thing is.... I didn't have excessive play before. THe control box is the black binnicle, single, with the trim/tilt on the handle. Could something have happened inside the box? I did a bunch of searches, but found very little on those boxes.<br /><br />

Originally posted by MCM:<br /> try having your daughter do the same thing only this time watch the cable and shift linkage to see when the shift rod actually shifts into gear at the motor.

I did. I/she can play with the handle without the linkage moving. I took the cover off the engine and the small housing that covers where all the cables go in so I could see it clearly from the console. I can play back and forth and the thing doesn't move. I had it set up before that as soon as it hit the detent, moving forward, it would go into gear.

 

[MCM]

Re: OMC control box / throttle

Something's amiss somewhere & parts do go bad, might have to open up the box and have a look, I'm not familiar with it though, maybe someone else has some ideas.