Ficht runaway rpm while docking

fireman_bob

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
100
Hi,
I've got a 2000 200 HP ficht that I just put in the water for the season. I took the boat for a 1/2 hour shakedown cruise and had no issues running up and down from idle to planing speed multiple times. The problem came when I was docking the boat. As I approached my slip, I normally have the boat in fwd gear at minimum speed as I come down the fairway, then I shift into neutral and coast the last 20 yards or so while I turn the boat to align with my slip. The problem came when I shifted from fwd to neutral/idle to begin my coast. Right after shifting into neutral, the motor began to rev up so I immediately shut it off, then restarted it. After the restart I had no more issues going fwd/rev/idle while docking (although my legs were still shaking!). The last thing I want to happen while docking is having an out of control motor in the marina.

So to summarize:
1) Engine was at running temperature for about 1/2 hour. Idle was nice and smooth. Full power at high rpm/plane speeds
2) No prior issues or indication anything was wrong or about to go wrong
3) Shifting from fwd/idle to neutral caused rpms to quickly increase.
4) Motor shut off (by me) then immediately restarted with no further issues while docking (multiple fwd/n/rev cycles).

Any ideas what could have caused this runaway rpm? Although it didn't happen again right then, I'm not one to brush something like this under the carpet and hope it never happens again, because I know it WILL at the most inopportune time.

Thank you.
 

Haffiman

Commander
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
2,454
Re: Ficht runaway rpm while docking

Check your throttle cable adjustment and play in the cable and remote. Do an ohm test of your TPS sensor. For some reason it has sent a signal that indicated a higher rpm setting (open throttle ).
 

fireman_bob

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
100
Re: Ficht runaway rpm while docking

I'm pretty confident the throttle cable and mount are good as I just replaced the shift cable and had both assemblies apart and back together. before the boat went in. How would a mis-adjusted throttle cable cause that kind of problem?
I'll check the TPS. Thank you.
 

Haffiman

Commander
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
2,454
Re: Ficht runaway rpm while docking

If play in the system or a sticking cable, it may not have gone all the way to 'idle' position, leaving the TPS partly 'open'. Have seen that problem when shifting 'carefully' just into neutral from forward. Sometimes need to go half the way to reverse and back to neutral to somewhat 'solve' the problem. Long cables, play or sticking cables might be the reason. If you got the diagnostic software, hook it up and read off the TPS as shifting.
 

fireman_bob

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
100
Re: Ficht runaway rpm while docking

You were right. The throttle cable was not seating the stop against the block in neutral. Realigned the cable and all is well with that problem.
Thank you.
 
Top