Controls & cables - 4.3l

[big zeke]

Recently I had my boat at a shop, the owner (also the mechanic, parts guy and janitor) mentioned that I should consider replacing my cables and control. He mentioned something called a Commander 4500 which is supposed to be better than what I got. He also mentioned that my cables are bad and stiff. The cables and controls are only a few years old and with very light use (maybe 50 hrs in 5 years) so I doubt it's a wear and tear thing. I do notice that the engine does not return the base idle (~600 rpm) when I back off the throttle, I have to manually pull on the carb lever for it to go back otherwise it hangs up ~900 rpm (might be out of adjustment tho).

So I'm looking for suggestions on what is the best control box for my application (4.3 4bbl, Alpha 1, gen II) and what is anything can be done for the cables (how do I figure out if they need replacing, what are my options for replacing them). The motivator here is that the mechanic guy mentioned I should plan to drop about $1500 to swap this stuff out

Thanks in advance for the input
Zeke

 

[alldodge]

Recently I had my boat at a shop, the owner (also the mechanic, parts guy and janitor) mentioned that I should consider replacing my cables and control. He mentioned something called a Commander 4500 which is supposed to be better than what I got. He also mentioned that my cables are bad and stiff. The cables and controls are only a few years old and with very light use (maybe 50 hrs in 5 years) so I doubt it's a wear and tear thing. I do notice that the engine does not return the base idle (~600 rpm) when I back off the throttle, I have to manually pull on the carb lever for it to go back otherwise it hangs up ~900 rpm (might be out of adjustment tho).

So I'm looking for suggestions on what is the best control box for my application (4.3 4bbl, Alpha 1, gen II) and what is anything can be done for the cables (how do I figure out if they need replacing, what are my options for replacing them). The motivator here is that the mechanic guy mentioned I should plan to drop about $1500 to swap this stuff out

Thanks in advance for the input
Zeke

Howdy Zeke, that would be the last thing I would do and only if lubricating and adjusting didn't work. The first thing is adjusting, remove the cable from the plate carb. Have a barrel nut off and make sure your carb lever sets against the idle adjustment screw. You should be able to move it open by hand and it should move back to the same resting position every time without any help. Move your throttle handle in throttle only mode forward and back to neutral a few times. Don't go to reverse at this time. After a few times, try to reinstall the cable on the carb and plate. Move the barrel nut so that it just slides in and there is no pressure needed to put it on.

The adjustment should return to where it should every time, if it doesn't probably need to get into the stuff and do some lubrication.

 

[Bondo]

Howdy Zeke, that would be the last thing I would do and only if lubricating and adjusting didn't work. The first thing is adjusting, remove the cable from the plate carb. Have a barrel nut off and make sure your carb lever sets against the idle adjustment screw. You should be able to move it open by hand and it should move back to the same resting position every time without any help. Move your throttle handle in throttle only mode forward and back to neutral a few times. Don't go to reverse at this time. After a few times, try to reinstall the cable on the carb and plate. Move the barrel nut so that it just slides in and there is no pressure needed to put it on.

The adjustment should return to where it should every time, if it doesn't probably need to get into the stuff and do some lubrication.

Ayuh,.... To expand abit on AllDodge's adjustment explanation,....

When yer done, the cable should be exertin' a tiny bit of pressure against the idle stop adjustin' screw on the carb,....

 

[big zeke]

Thanks for the input, I guessed as much. For lubricating the cables, is there (or should there be) some sort of a grease nipple on the cable ends or di I just undo the end, drip some oil down there and do it back up. There looks to be no access point along the cable itself.

I ran it on the muffs again yesterday, it looks like the cable is out of adjustment, the engine dropped back to base idle after I pulled on the cable end at the carb (it moved ~1/16"), it definaely wasn't pushing back on the throttle lever.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks for the input, I guessed as much. For lubricating the cables, is there (or should there be) some sort of a grease nipple on the cable ends or di I just undo the end, drip some oil down there and do it back up. There looks to be no access point along the cable itself.

I ran it on the muffs again yesterday, it looks like the cable is out of adjustment, the engine dropped back to base idle after I pulled on the cable end at the carb (it moved ~1/16"), it definaely wasn't pushing back on the throttle lever.

There isn't a grease fitting on the cable. If it needs lubed, only way I have been able to do it is to remove it from the boat. Pull center cable out and use some lithium grease. My guess is it just needs adjusting

 

[Bondo]

Thanks for the input, I guessed as much. For lubricating the cables, is there (or should there be) some sort of a grease nipple on the cable ends or di I just undo the end, drip some oil down there and do it back up. There looks to be no access point along the cable itself.

I ran it on the muffs again yesterday, it looks like the cable is out of adjustment, the engine dropped back to base idle after I pulled on the cable end at the carb (it moved ~1/16"), it definaely wasn't pushing back on the throttle lever.

Ayuh,.... It adjusts, Right there,.... 7/16" end-wrench, 'n a pair of pliers is 'bout all it takes,.....