Maxum question

[cpowell]

I have a 1989 Maxum 19 foot with Mercury motor.
On the top of the shifter/throttle there is a button sort of thing, not exactly a button but you can press it. It's kind of a grip thing. At first I thought it must be an accellerator to increase motor speed in neutral, but that doesn't work. Then I thought it might be a choke control but that doesn't seem to be it either since the one on the ingnition works. I also thought that it might be some kind of clutch control but again nothing. It doesn't seem to do anything that I can tell.
At the bottom of the shifter/throttle handle is another button that does look like a button but it doesn't do anything either that I can tell.
Granted, the previous owner made some mods to the motor and the boat and some things are disconnected.
I have looked at the Maxum manual page but those are just parts lists, no real information to be had there on operation of the boat.
Anyone have an idea what these are supposed to do?

 

[BrianFD]

Re: Maxum question

cpowell, I'm not familiar with the shifter on an '89, but I have a '97 Maxum.
Underneath the top of my shifter is a bar you squeeze up with your fingertips. This allows moving the transmission into forward or reverse from neutral. Toward the bottom of the shifter, there is a large black button to push to disengage the shifter from the transmission, allowing for throttle only. With the shifter in neutral, push the big black button and push the shifter forward to rev the engine. Between the two, there is a toggle switch that allows for bringing up the outdrive to the "trailer" position. With the engine "off" it would be difficult (if not impossible) to know why they are there.
Hope this helps!
~Brian

 

[anyfishlldo]

Re: Maxum question

I am not familiar with an '89 either but I can't imagine it's too different.

As Brian said, the button or bar just underneath the handle is almost like a clutch, allows you to go from neutral idle to forward or reverse. where your thumb sits is normally the tilt/trim rocker switch, Below that at the bottom of that handle post it usually forms a circle, in the middle of that circle is the "neutral advance" or neutral throttle.


The top and bottom ones will do nothing with the engine off, but the tilt/trim should actuate the hydraulics with engine off as long as you have a battery charge, and you will definitely hear that.


Hope that helps!

 

[cpowell]

Re: Maxum question

I'll be taking the boat out tomorrow, hopefully if honey gets back with the truck...., and I will give these a try.
I put on a tach today, didn't get the boat started though. The tach zeroed like it was supposed to so I am hoping it will work like it is supposed to. The wiring is a MESS under the dash, wires that go nowhere from nowhere, wires from fuses that go nowhere, wires that come from somewhere to no where. Good thing she loves fishing I may be coming back to ask more questions on this maxum if you guys don't mind too much. I need all the help I can get at this point....

 

[cpowell]

Re: Maxum question

I forgot to add that the tilt does work and I have that figured out. The other two I had not gotten yet and thanks for the input. I figured that there must be a way to rev the engine without running it up on the beach but wasn't sure where or what. The motor is idled so slow that it takes a lot of gas just to get it to back off the trailer.
Now, I haven't been using the button on the handle to change gears, normally I am going REALLY slow when I do anyway but have I perhaps screwed something? Is it required to use this?
Obviously, I haven't driven a boat since I was a kid driving my daddys and that was 40+ years ago.
Thanks for all your help!

 

[anyfishlldo]

Re: Maxum question

I have never seen one that you do not need to use the button to engage for. or rev., if it is difficult to shift you may be damaging it, use the button.

Also, there are differing opinions on this, but I am a firm believer in getting the boat on and off the trailer without using the motor at all. Back in enough so it floats free, less wear and tear on your hull and the bunks and/or rollers.


And ask all the questions you need to, this Maxum forum is dead!