OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

[Catfishmonkey]

I have an OMC throttle for my Evinrude 48 special. The problem is when i lift up on fast idle lever, there is no resistance to activate fast idle. Replaced the cable on it; still displays only about a half inch range of motion when I bring the level up, and down. The other Throttle level (the main one, Forward, Neutral, Reverse) works fine. This thing got me beat, so I included some pictures of the inside, and was hoping some of you guys could take a stab at it.

Shoot from the hip!

Thanks,

M

 

[seahorse5]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Hold the lever in pict. #1, 2, and 4 that attaches to the cable, then try to move the fast idle lever on the control box up and down. Chances are there is the free play due to a loose screw or a worn nub and notch in both parts where they fasten.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

The fast idle lever is not intended, nor does it need to provide the same full-range travel that the main lever does. If it did half the engines on the planet would be destroyed because people tend to flip that lever full up and then hesitate to lower it back down to a comfortable, but slightly increased idle during warm up.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

When I hold the level, and then move the (white) fast idle lever on the top up and down, what should I be looking for? Also, where would the screws I might need to fasten be? At this point I can only see one (flathead) screw, with the washer type thing behind it, which it visible (pictures 4, 1, 2). Are you talking about parts underneath that white platic piece on the lower left (pictures 1,2,4,). Should I take that off?

Yeah, I know it is not supposed to show the same range of motion, but I had one of these OMC/Evinrude setups in the past, and believe me, there is an issue here with this fast idle throttle on this one. It moves half an inch, and the fast idle seems VERY loose compared to the other engine/OMC setup...no pressure at all when you lift it up. I mean it is to the point it is hard to start the motor.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

I'm going to bet that the small slotted screw in the warmup cam is loose.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

The screw itself seemed pretty tight. But the nut on the outside of the throttle, holding that fast idle bar from the outside, was a little loose. So I tightened it. Now, instead of 1/2 inch of movement, I am getting a little close to 1 inch. Is that normal? Might put a piece of sponge rubber under the nut, just to make sure it doesn't come loose.

I forgot to mention, that plastic piece, just to the left of the yellow arrow you drew on the picture, was glued (by me), using epoxy. It is pretty strong, and doesn't bend or anything...just wondering if it was originally longer. Doesn't seem to be, because the two broken pieces fit together pretty well when I epoxied them. Little bit of wear on the plastic piece it might connect up with, on the other piece of the throttle, where that plastic piece goes into...which you could see in the 3rd picture, on the bottom left.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

I can't recall off the top of my head, but that plastic piece (called a Shift Lockout Lever) doesn't look like it's in the right position. On the other side, where you epoxied it, there should be a nub. That nub should seat in the hole marked here...

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

I attached a couple pictures, with my questions written on them. Thanks.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

The nylon piece just below the yellow arrow is the shift lockout lever, #67 in the diagram below - the part you epoxied. On the other side of that, on the end you glued, is a nub that is supposed to seat in the hole I pointed out. The end of that nylon piece is not supposed to float free.

The knob on the shift lever (#2) that you pointed to does indeed go in the hole you pointed to. That is the pivot for the shift lever. Incorporated into the nylon bit of the shift lever is the receiver for the lockout lever.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Right, ok makes sense. Two quick questions....Let me point them out on the pictures...

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

First pic: No, that is not the part I am talking about. I gave you the parts diagram to clarify which ones I was talking about.
Second pic: Yes, that's bad. The end you fixed IS supposed to be connected to something. On the back side, the side NOT shown in the photo, there should be a nub. That nub is supposed to seat in the hole I pointed out above.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Ok. Now I get ya.

I think this is now set up properly (see pictures). But still only getting less than 1 inch of motion when I lift fast idle up and down. Do you think the piece I glued might be short...I mean, maybe that shift lockout level is not as long as it used to be? Can you see any other problems here.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Yes, BUT only when you shift gears. When you shift into forward, that lever moves enough to engage the lockout. That's so you can't lift the warm-up lever when in gear... Plus, with the box closed, you should get more movement out of the throttle cable, as the pivot point of the throttle lever is loose with the box open.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

I understand that, but I was referring to how much it moves when the box is closed. When it is closed it moves barely 1 inch. It doesn't move at all when the box is open. Do you think the level piece I glued might have been worn down to heck before I glued it or something?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

That I can't say. Does it look worn? As for range of motion in the throttle cable itself, the nylon piece you fixed only operates the lockout - nothing to do with range of motion on the cable... All levers and cogs need to operated somewhat snugly - if anything shows play or looseness, then it's not going to give full range of motion...

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Well, the only part actually that looks warn is this one (see picture 1). Everything looks good, to my untrained eye, BUT I did find that one piece is missing (part 86 on your diagram above). not sure if that would cause the problem since it seems like such an insignificant part, would it?

 

[seahorse5]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Well, the only part actually that looks warn is this one (see picture 1). Everything looks good, to my untrained eye, BUT I did find that one piece is missing (part 86 on your diagram above). not sure if that would cause the problem since it seems like such an insignificant part, would it? View attachment 87275

Did you see if there was free play by doing what I described in my previous post ( #2 ) ? If so, remove the flat headed screw and the cable lever and you will see wear, looseness, or displacement of the outside and inside lever where they join.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

I checked for free play. Not really any, after I tightened it. Getting about 1 inch of movement...a bit more than before. About how many inches is the normal range of motion for the fast idle anyhow? Is 1 inch normal?

I seems like it is tight, but when I got the box open, when I move the lever up and down (although there is no free play), it does not really move the cable at all. Only when I close the box. It is almost as if, when I have it open, it has no where to pivot against, and in effect push against...to movement the cable itself. Any thoughts?

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Any other thoughts guys? Any of you happen to know around what range of motion I should be seeing in the idle throttle cable (inches, etc...). I heard it should be less than the forward/reverse/shifter throttle cable. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Getting an inch right now.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: OMC Throttle - Looks good, but strange thing is...

Ordered a couple new parts for cheap. I think it is going to wind up being the keeper plate. We will see, soon enough.