Possible wonky throttle

[Efini Motorsport]

When I hooked up the throttle in my boat last week I noticed something that seems like it's out of whack in my throttle assembly. It feels like there are three detents in my throttle. There is the one when the throttle is straight up in neutral but 2 more about 45 degrees either side of neutral. The throttle cable itself doesn't start moving until after I move past the second detent in either direction. Everything seems to be fine otherwise. I've never had the boat in the water or even running and I don't remember if this is the way it was when I took it apart 6 months ago. It just seems odd that there is no throttle input for almost half of the total throttle travel.The boat is a 90 Four Winns 195 freedom that originally had an OMC 4.3. It's in the process of getting a fuel injected Vortec 4.3.

 

[GA_Boater]

The extra "detents" are the lower unit shifting into forward and reverse. There is a slight resistance to overcome the shift cam against the sliding gear. The "detent" feel is exaggerated when the motor isn't running.

Throttle remains in idle until the shift into gear is complete, so this is normal.

 

[Efini Motorsport]

Thanks. Right now I don't have the shift cable hooked up to the throttle assembly or even have the outdrive on. I just thought it was weird that there's that much of the throw that's not used.

 

[GA_Boater]

In that case, the "detent" you're feeling is transfer of the handle movement from the shift cam inside to the throttle cam. Things feel a lot different with no load on disconnected cables.

 

[Efini Motorsport]

Looking at the back side of the shifter assembly the pivoting arm that the throttle cable hooks to doesn't move until after I hit that second detent either. That means no throttle input until after that either.

 

[GA_Boater]

That's how it works. Otherwise the throttle would be advanced as the shift is engaged and the gears would be torn up.

Like I said earlier, it isn't a detent. You're feeling the throttle cam being picked up after the motor is firmly in gear.

It may be best to wait until the motor is installed and everything it connected before being concerned. You'll know then if it's working right.