Fast idle lever

Prop Daddy

Cadet
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
9
88 70 Evinrude OMC controller idle lever will not stay down. Need to hold it down to get
the to go. It will stay down once it"s in fwd but pop up if in neu. Any help would be great. Thanx
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Fast idle lever

Someone may have mucked with cable adjustments but it could be a problem inside the control box. There is an interlock that is supposed to prevent shifting into forward or reverse with the fast idle lever raised. However, I';ve seen that feature screwed up because of operator error (forcing the throttle forward with the fast idle lever up).
 

Prop Daddy

Cadet
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
9
Re: Fast idle lever

Thanks for the input. Where would the cable adjustment be for the lever? I got this boat w/ this problem already previous owner knocked the price down.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: Fast idle lever

Take your shift and throttle cables off of mtr. Put your control lever down and then adjust the cables to the proper specs on the mtr as per the factory service manual.
 

Fed

Commander
Joined
Apr 1, 2010
Messages
2,457
Re: Fast idle lever

+1 Boobie
There's more to adjusting the throttle cable than meets the eye, I read you can even damage the controller unless it's done 'by the book'.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: Fast idle lever

Fed, you are 100% correct. If you're a DIY'er you can do a lot more damage than just to the controller without that factory manual.
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Fast idle lever

Shift cable:
(Centering Shift Cable)
(J. Reeves)

When all is as it should be, the proper method to adjust the shift cable is to disconnect the cable from the engine. Move the shift linkage on the engine to find the center of the play in neutral, and when found, leave it centered.

Now, grab the end of the shift cable sleeve, push and pull it to find the center of the play there, and center that play.

Adjust the trunion on the threaded portion of the shift cable so that the centered play of the cable lines up with the centered play of the engine's shift linkage. Install and lock the shift cable with the retaining clamp in that position. That's it.

Throttle cable:
Cable disconnected at engine. Control box in neutral, set at idle. If fast idle lever still does not stay down, problem is within c/box. If fast idle does stay down as it should..........

Adjust threaded trunion knob on cable at engine until the tension holding the engine linkage in neutral/idle is set as needed BUT the tension is NOT excessive (rocket science mentality not required on this one). That's it.
 
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