Boat surges slightly when moving shift level INTO gear (fwd. or reverse) Help.

[bmowers]

Boat Bayliner 175BR 2008 model Mercruiser 3.0 (Carb). Alpha 1 Gen 2.
The problem: When shifting INTO gear (forward or reverse) the boat surges slightly as if I moved the throttle forward. It has just started doing this the last 3 times out (about 1 week). I use the boat 2-3 times / week for slalom skiing and wake boarding. NORMALLY, I move the shift lever out of Neutral (by depressing the red lock out button on the underside of the shift handle THEN move the throttle slightly to more engage the drive to get boat moving. This surge is upsetting because 95% of the boat hours are for skiing and wake boarding and my skiiers don't like to feel that surge on the rope when getting set in the water while the rope is being lined up taught.

How frequent each boat session: this surging is INTERMITTANT to the extend of about 60%. The other 40% the gear engagement is completely normal.
WHAT I HAVE DONE THUS FAR:
1.) I have lubed and cleaned the (engine side) ends of both shift cables and throttle cable as well as all pivot points. This might have helped somewhat I feel.
2.) I have knocked the idle set screw on the carb down from 1015 RPM to 910 RPM. Now I think it may have helped by 10% so maybe I should keep going all the way down to the spec of 700 RPM ?

My reading of DON S's skickies is that the shift interrupter is not involved because I am going INTO gear.

I suspect the lower shift cable because going into reverse is slightly worse.
Has anyone had this problem?

Thanks guys.

Brian

 

[Bondo]

so maybe I should keep going all the way down to the spec of 700 RPM ?

Ayuh,..... Absolutely,..... Why is it idlin' so high,..?? How long has it been that way,..??

 

[bmowers]

Ayuh,..... Absolutely,..... Why is it idlin' so high,..?? How long has it been that way,..??

Bonds, it has been that was since I bought it from original owner.
Say do I have to disconnect the throttle cable from carb to adjust the idle set screw properly?
I ask because I can easily just reach around to carb and adjust idle speed easily w/o disconnecting throttle cable?

Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Say do I have to disconnect the throttle cable from carb to adjust the idle set screw properly?
I ask because I can easily just reach around to carb and adjust idle speed easily w/o disconnecting throttle cable?

Ayuh,.... To do it Right, ya pull the cotter pin, 'n disconnect the cable,...

Hold the linkage against the idle screw, adjust the idle,....
Move the cable back, 'n make sure it's applin' a slight bit of pressure against the idle screw, 'n put the cotter pin back in,....

If it Ain't puttin' tension on the idle screw, screw the cable end, out a turn, 'n try it,....

 

[achris]

...2.) I have knocked the idle set screw on the carb down from 1015 RPM to 910 RPM....

Idle WAAAAY too high. Excellent way to destroy gearboxes....

 

[bmowers]

Thanks guys. I will adjust idle speed to the recommended 650-700 rpm range tomorrow!

 

[bmowers]

Thanks guys, I adjusted the throttle cable as Bondo suggested and the shifting problem is all but gone. 650-700 rpm when in neutral was the key. I took the throttle cable off and adjusted the barrel to add more tension while backing out the idle set screw.



Thanks again.