Sticky Throttle cable? Shift Cable? Help!

[SamMaas]

Hey folks,
I have a '94 Rinker Captiva 190. has the 4.3L mercruiser alpha one. Ive had this boat now for 4 years, no issues (other than light annual maintence). Last summer, noticed the motor kept getting stuck in gear, even though the throttle was in neutral position. The engine doesnt die at all. So, I can start it in neutral, go full throttle no problem, back it down to idle. then if im trying to back into neutral, she sticks in gear. I had to shimmy the throttle and yank it in reverse to get it out of gear and then i can put it in neutral.

Yesterday, I had dad over and he was watching the cables while i tried to shift. shifter cable was moving just fine and appropriate. Throttle cable, however, seemed like it was sluggish and sticky. Would I be just fine replacing the throttle cable? or should i also replace the throttle shifter too?

 

[nola mike]

Check to see if your shift interrupter switch is working. It's supposed to momentarily kill power to the engine when you're coming out of gear. Without that working, it will be hard to get out of gear. It's a small switch centered in a v-shaped plate near the shifter cables. Push the switch, it should kill the engine

 

[Rick Stephens]

Sounds like you need to learn how the shift interrupt system works and fix it. Read through this post (that can be found in the stickies along with a lot of other stuff)

Next is watch Chris's video on adjusting shift linkage.

Last, might lubricate your throttle cable if it seems sticky even when disconnected.

 

[SamMaas]

to clarify,
if the switch IS working properly when i push it, then its the throttle cable that needs replaced

if the switch is NOT working, i should replace the the interrupter switch instead.
correct? I appreciate all help and advice. this is my first I/O so im not entirely familiar with all the ins and outs.

 

[SamMaas]

Sounds like you need to learn how the shift interrupt system works and fix it. Read through this post (that can be found in the stickies along with a lot of other stuff)

Next is watch Chris's video on adjusting shift linkage.

Last, might lubricate your throttle cable if it seems sticky even when disconnected.

Thanks! I appreciate the links! As stated above, this is my first I/O. We did try and lube the throttle cable last night to see if it would move better. it didnt improve much. Not sure if the wire is garbage on the inside or... The engine has never died when moving the throttle back and forth. Ill look into the links you provided!

 

[Rick Stephens]

The shift interrupt switch must be capable of grounding the ignition, but the linkage must also be adjusted correctly. Also the lower shift cable must be silky smooth and not have any drag in it.

Additional advice to a new Mercruiser owner: if you are going to do the maintenance on it yourself, you must have the factory Mercruiser Service Manual.

 

[SamMaas]

The shift interrupt switch must be capable of grounding the ignition, but the linkage must also be adjusted correctly. Also the lower shift cable must be silky smooth and not have any drag in it.

Additional advice to a new Mercruiser owner: if you are going to do the maintenance on it yourself, you must have the factory Mercruiser Service Manual.

Unfortunately, we bought the boat used, and it did not come with a manual. I believe i can find the manual online.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Unfortunately, we bought the boat used, and it did not come with a manual. I believe i can find the manual online.

Pretty much no boat comes with the service manual for the power package. And boat manufacturers don't make the power packages, the boat itself is irrelevant to the maintenance of the motor and drive. And many people are not qualified to work on their engine and drive, hence most will use professional trained (or not) mechanics. I like that you are working on your own stuff. And this forum is dedicated to helping each of us do just that. You can find places to purchase the manuals. There are different ones for the motor and the drive. A good list, that may or may not be good deals, can be found here.

 

[nola mike]

Thanks! I appreciate the links! As stated above, this is my first I/O. We did try and lube the throttle cable last night to see if it would move better. it didnt improve much. Not sure if the wire is garbage on the inside or... The engine has never died when moving the throttle back and forth. Ill look into the links you provided!

Usually if the cable is bad, it activates the switch inappropriately. And then a lazy owner will disconnect the switch rather than replace the cable.

 

[isaacs]

If you try shutting the ignition key off when you try to pull the shifter out of gear what happens?

 

[SamMaas]

Usually if the cable is bad, it activates the switch inappropriately. And then a lazy owner will disconnect the switch rather than replace the cable.

This problem started end of last summer. We’ve had the boat for 4 years. No switches have been disconnected

 

[SamMaas]

If you try shutting the ignition key off when you try to pull the shifter out of gear what happens?

The boat shuts off. I’ve had to emergency shut the boat off when docking a couple times last year because I couldn’t get it into neutral

 

[isaacs]

So if it can be easily shifted into neutral with the engine off that kind of means there is nothing wrong with the shift cable; it must be the switch or a poorly adjusted throttle cable.