Stranded on the lake.

[Jim13]

My new to me boat left me stranded on the lake the other day. It is a 97 Sprint F&S with a 115 Johnson.

Nothing would happen when you turned the key until I wiggled and pulled back on the throttle lever and then I had contact and the boat would start.

The other problem is because of this I can't start the boat in neutral giving it a little gas and let it warm up. You have to start it and then immediately take off or it will die.

The throttle lever is the type with the big button in the center that you push in to go to neutral.

What is causing this? If I knew the name of the faulty part could I replace it or just get a whole new throttle lever assembly?

 

[KYHunter2]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

There's a neutral safety switch , that works off the throttle. ( not positive how yours is configured )

Sounds like yours maybe sticking, happens alot.

The easiest way to repair/ check , is to take the shifter apart.

You'll see the switch , with a wire going to it.

Check and be sure its not loose, and activate the little button, to see if it sticks.

You might want to spray the switch with electrical contact cleaner.


Not sure if this will correct the not idling in neutral problem , but might.

When you put into gear it maybe jarring it free ??

Try checking this out and get back to us.

KYHunter

 

[ezeke]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

If your control is the concealed side mount type, the button in the center of the control allows you to start with the throttle advanced when you hold the botton in.

The control is part number 176482, or 176483. You can see it on the BRP Parts Manuals by navigating to the "advanced" search field and entering the part number. Leave all of the other fields blank.

Copy the URL to your browser without the quotation marks:

"http://epc.brp.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx%3fbrands%3dej%26lang%3dE&brands=ej&lang=E"

or "http://epc.brp.com/default.aspx?brands=ej&lang=E"

If it is one of the others, you can see all of the 1997 controls by going to the advanced search and entering "remote control" in description, and "1997" in the second model field. Leave the other fields blank.

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Thanks both of you for the info!

When I get off work in the morning I will check it out. Now that I have a picture of what it looks like (thanks ezeke) I will tear into it.

I can push the button in all I want, but it is still in gear.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

If it is in gear when the handle is straight up, you will need to adjust or replace your shift cables. It should not be in gear until you are say, 30+ degrees forward of the vertical.

Also, you should be able to go to neutral and reverse without touching that center button.

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

I know this gets confusing after a while. Let me try again.

It is not in gear straight up.

What I can't do is start it without wiggling the control.
I can't give it gas in neutral to let it warm up. It just goes.

 

[ob]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Having to wiggle the control lever from its neutral position in order to get the starter to engage with the key switch is indicative as stated above of a problem within the control box of a neutral saftey switch position.

The type of controls that incorporate a button beside the shift lever have the feature of allowing the operator to fast idle the engine (out of gear) by pressing the button while at the same time shifting the lever forward.

If the engine will not continue to idle on its own,the idle speed is out of adjustment or the idle circuit within the carb/s are restricted.

Post the model number and or year model of the engine so we can be sure if it has the quickstart feature.I'm just assuming that it is a 97' model.

Cold starting procedure is as follows: pump up the fuel primer bulb until completly firm.Then while pushing in on the key switch to activate the fuel solenoid primer ,turn it to the start position until engine fires.If engine begins to fall off,intermittedly push in on the key switch primer until it settles and will idle unassisted.It'll take some practice.

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

It does have the button so you can fast idle the engine.

When you push the button and push the lever forward, instead of getting a fast idle, the gear engages and the boat moves. It used to work, now it doesn't.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

There should be a mounting cover plate to the right of the handle that you can remove. There find two recessed friction screws arranged horizontally. [Some models only have the throttle tension screw.]
The left one adjusts the throttle cable tension.

The right one adjusts the forward/neutral/reverse detent tension. Move the handle back and forth while tightening clockwise until the desired tension is found.

At the bottom of Control Handle, facing up, is a hex screw that holds the handle to the drive shaft. If it has vibrated loose, it can cause your symptoms. If you find that it is loose, move the handle to the full reverse position and tighten the hex screw to 25-35 inch pounds. The hex screw is #57 on your parts diagram.

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

I tore it apart this morning and found a sticky mechanism and a loose wire. I wouldn't have tried it without the diagram though. Thanks for the info.

Seems to do fine in the driveway. I will take it out on wednesday and test it. 8)

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Took it out and tested it today. It did just fine until I was pulling out and wanted to trim up the engine for the transom saver. It wouldn't trim up. I could hear a faint buzzing inside the engine compartment but that is all.

Just for the heck of it I tried to start it and it wouldn't turn over. It clicked a couple of times like a car with a dead battery but that was it.

Eventually the trim started working by itself and when I tried to turn it over it did just fine.

I don't think this was my throttle lever at all, Any one have any ideas? I am mechanically inclined I just don't do electrical.

My battery is good and my connections to the battery are good.

 

[fireman57]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Check all your connections from the battery all the way to the starter and solenoid. Clean them all well and put a small coating of electrical grease on them. Sounds like it is just a bad connection somewhere.

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Buying the grease on the way home in the morning.

I guess that is the next logical step.

Thanks!

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Well, I went through and cleaned all of my connections and used the grease on everything. Took the boat back out yesterday and it did it again!

I messed with all the wiring bending, pulling, pushing etc.
I finally found it! It is the battery cable where it passes into the engine bay. It looks like it was smashed flat at one time and when I wiggle it I can get the boat to start and the trim to work.

I wanted to post this to let you know what it was and maybe to help someone with simular symptoms.

Thanks alot for your help!

 

[fireman57]

Re: Stranded on the lake.


Glad you found it. Usually it is fairly simple to find a problem like you just had. Just have to trace and inspect all the wires going from battery to solenoid to starter. It takes a fully charged battery to turn these engines over at the proper speed. I wish most people would post on what they found wrong so others can see it. Enjoy what is left of boating season. Ooops, I see that where you are from it is all year!

 

[Jim13]

Re: Stranded on the lake.

Yeah, pretty much all year. There are probably a couple of months the wife won't go out, but I can see me fishing year round.8)