Mercruiser 3000 (Quicksilver?) Throttle issues

[stereoman]

Just put a nice custom system in my buddies 22' Advantage Citation with the Quicksilver (I think) 3000. When the assembly was put back together, a couple issues arose. The local dealer hasn't been much help, just sys it'll be $800 to replace without realy looking into the issue.

1. Throttle handle very loose in it's seat. I've read there's a plastic bushing or collar that needed to go back in where the handle joins the box, but do not recall seeing one when it came apart...? Would've kept it if I had!

2. Handle goes forward just fine. When trying to get reverse, it feels very resistant, won't go more than 1/2 way back. Cables move, but feels like something is "binding". Have seen references to "jammed cables"..? What's that mean, how can I check, and if it's the issue, how's it get fixed?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3000 (Quicksilver?) Throttle issues

Click here to find the proper parts breakdown for your control.

You could have problems with a cable binding (replace the cable) or it could also be tied down with cable ties too tight right up next to the control The cables have to have room to move for the control to work.
Start by disconnecting the cable from the engine shift plate and see if it shifts smooth or not.
When you were trying to shift in to reverse and it was binding, was the engine running? If not, then the clutch dogs (if alpha drive) may not have been lined up properly and not allowing the clutch to engage.

 

[stereoman]

Re: Mercruiser 3000 (Quicksilver?) Throttle issues

Thanks for the link, and for the advice!

When you were trying to shift in to reverse and it was binding, was the engine running? If not, then the clutch dogs (if alpha drive) may not have been lined up properly and not allowing the clutch to engage.

No it wasn't - but it's a Bravo. What's the difference? I know car engines very very well, and boat motors aren't any different, really. But transmissions I'm so-so on, and outdrives I know the next thing to nothing about (although I'm a VERY quick study when I need to be).

 

[stereoman]

Re: Mercruiser 3000 (Quicksilver?) Throttle issues

SO, an update for anyone who might read this in the future...

After pulling our hair out for a while, we ascertained that pulling the control back was acting on the throttle, and moving it forward was putting the thing into reverse. The "binding" feel when trying to get reverse was the throttle cable running out of travel. We also learned that when the new Bravo was installed, the guy had replaced the shift cable - new information!

So it had nothing at all to do with my install, and we decided pretty quickly that he'd reversed the cables inside the box when reassembling everything. Opened it up and swapped them.... And still getting weird reactions. DIFFERENT ones, but it's still behaving oddly - throttle won't go all the way forward, reverse still being strange...

Looking at the plate, the cable connector assemby (whatever you call it) is too big, and won't allow for full travel when trying to get reverse - or forward, for that matter. More head scratching. Sitting staring at the thing all mad, I say to the mechanic who'd come to help - but who was not familiear with the QS 3000 and so was only a litrtle better off than me - "wait - you said you can't shorten that cable anymore, he may have used the wrong one?"
"Yeah"
"But we still can't get full throttle, right?"
"get to that in a second, let's figure these out one at a time"
"That throttle connection assembly looks a LOT shorter than that shifter one."
"..."
"..."
"Are you kidding me?"
"that's both of us, man..."
And so on. We'd swapped cables in the box for no reason - the mistake was made on the motor - the jackass had put the throttle cable on the shifter assembly and vice-versa. In retrospect, we should've seen that right away - but why on God's green earth had the guy disconnected the cable from the throttlebody anyway?!?! Grr. Back into the box, swap them back, switch them where they need to be switched, on the motor.

So - everything is where it should be now - but in reconnecting the assembly in the box, we moved things around, and can't for the life of us get it where it should be - i.e., selector position being neutral actually equals neutral, full reverse being actual reverse, and full throttle both engaging forward drive and giving WOT. This stuff is a major PITA! All other issues - some of which weren't mentioned in the original post - have been resolved, but it's going to the shop to get all that realigned, 'cuz it's too damn hot to keep trial-and-erroring it in the carport, and it wasn't my screwup in the first place!

Thanks for your patience with a long post, had to vent a little...