Confused: 3.0 Idle adjustment w/carb disconnected in gear or neutral?

[lr3guyjoe]

So I'm reading the manual and on 5b-14 it says...

1. With boat in open water, place remote control in forward gear, idle position.
2. Disconnect throttle cable barrel from anchor stud. Be sure not to lose spacer on anchor stud.
3. Adjust idle speed adjustment screw to obtain 550-600 rpm, in neutral gear.
4. With engine running at specified rpm, adjust idle mixture needle as follows:
   1. Turn idle mixture needle in (clockwise) until the engine speed begins to drop due to lean mixture.
   2. Turn idle mixture screw out (counterclockwise) until the speed begins to drop due to rich mixture.
   3. Turn screw in to a point between these two extremes to obtain maximum engine smoothness and rpm.
   4. Readjust idle speed adjustment screw until engine idles at 650-700 rpm in forward gear.

So is it supposed to be in neutral or in gear? step 1. says in forward gear but then 3 says in neutral.
Also the barrel anchor stud? Is that the black swivel piece that mounts to the engine bracket side or do I disconnect it on the carb?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Scott Danforth]

boat in forward gear, at idle, in open water for final adjustment

 

[achris]

Forward gear.

 

[1999 Searay 180BR]

In all my reading the throttle cable barrel refers to what you call the black swivel piece on the engine bracket side. Ultimately, I feel the final adjustment needs to be made with absolutely zero influence from the throttle cable. I don't see why you couldn't disconnect it from the carb end, but that's not what the instructions are directing you to do. Maybe because once the final setting is achieved there may need to be cable adjustments made, in which case you'd have to disconnect the barrel anyway... Just my thoughts