stiff control lever

[alpcon]

Hi guys

Can someone please help

I have a Glastron SX175 2006 model with a Volvo penta 3l inboard. The boat only has 22 hours logged and I believe I have looked after her well. Running my own business I dont get to use her much and the last time I took her out I noticed the following.

The control lever is very stiff when going from neutral to forward and from neutral to reverse at low speed. Hence this is making it very difficult to control the boat when mooring as I no longer have the fine control I need.

The manual says there is a friction screw for adjustment, if this is what is needed, but I cant locate it.

Unfortunately due to the length of time I have had the boat the warranty has now expired.

Apologies in advance if im being a bit dim but being new to boats I believe I need your help.

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: stiff control lever

The friction screw is for the throttle control, if the shift is the problem, the cable may be defective or the cables are cable tied down close to the control and won't allow the cables to swing while shifting.

Moving to Boat Topics and Questions (Not engine topics)

 

[durdy]

Re: stiff control lever

My shifter is similar if not identical. I needed to pull the black plastic housing over the neutral button (pops off by hand), remove the black plastic rectangular cover (aided by a screwdriver to flex back the tabs), then unbolt a bright yellow/green plate from my hull to access the screw. The friction screw was the lone dull grey Philips among shinier screws. But it sounds like this is likely not your problem...

The friction screw is for the throttle control, if the shift is the problem, the cable may be defective or the cables are cable tied down close to the control and won't allow the cables to swing while shifting.

I don't think it's my problem either. On my boat with neutral engaged the throttle lever moves freely from fully forwards to fully backwards. But after engaging forward or reverse, it's very stiff. It can be moved but there's a lot of "stiction" if you will. Small throttle adjustments while underway are difficult and are best done with either two hands (!) or by firmly bracing my whole arm. Otherwise once I overcome the initial stiffness, the throttle moves much too far. I thought the friction screw was the ticket but adjusting it didn't do anything for me. Is improper cable routing or dressing the issue here? I don't know what the other side of the control arm looks like and hence don't know what's a likely cause/fix...

 

[alpcon]

Re: stiff control lever

Durdy

It looks like we both have the same problem!! The control lever was fine when I first bought the boat brand new but since this it has become very stiff when engaging forward and reverse. As with you the throttle is fine when in neutral.

I find it hard to believe that the cables have had it as I have only logged about 22 hours

I also cannot initiate any sort of repair under the warranty as this has now expired.

Lets hope that someone on this forum has had this problem before or knows what to do so we can both start enjoying our boats again.

 

[durdy]

Re: stiff control lever

Yes, our problems do sound similar. It's such that my wife can't safely drive the boat because she doesn't have the arm strength to properly control the throttle lever while underway.

One key difference between us is my boat is only 3 weeks old and is definitely under warranty. It's going back to the dealer in a few weeks for its 20hr check up and this is definitely going to be something that gets remedied. I'll let you know what they do to fix it. However I'm hoping an answer will pop up here and I can do the repair myself sooner.

 

[alpcon]

Re: stiff control lever

Thanks Durdy let me know what they do

Piece of advice if I may!

It may not be wise to attempt the repair yourself if your boat is still under warranty as this may invalidate it. Might be best to leave the service guys to sort it out but in any case let me know how they fix it coz im out of warranty on my boat and I will have to fix it myself.

 

[Thunder_SS]

Re: stiff control lever

OK I have been looking at this also. My problem is not shifting into forward or reverse, mine is the actual throttle itself.

Is there any way to adjust the throttle lever firmness?

I have the factory 3000 series, and when I am cruising in a no-wake zone....I have a hard time adjusting the throttle, like it is stiff or something.

I was thinking there might be a set screw of some type that would the lever to move a little easier (with a less force).

Here is another example....I have seen guys come into a dock at about a 30 degree angle, throw the boat in reverse to suck the back of the boat towards the dock. I tried that and I went from no throttle to fairly good (too much). Didn't work too well....

 

[durdy]

Re: stiff control lever

~11 months later and 2 trips to the dealer my shifter/throttle problem is still not resolved. I'm curious whether anyone else had better luck or preferably if anyone has some advice.

Visit #1 (20 hour maintenance): Dealer's service notes said they'd 'adjusted throttle screw'. No difference. I believe I'd already made this same adjustment.

Visit #2 (end of season winterizing): Dealer's service notes said 'replaced throttle spring'. Sounded promising but no difference.

This is a 1 year old boat with a Volvo 4.3, standard Volvo controls.

Symptoms again:
- throttle moves very easily from full forward to full back with neutral engaged. Good.
- in gear, at >~2000 RPMs the throttle lever is stiffer, but still can be moved acceptably by me. Wife has difficulty making small adjustments here.
- in gear, but less than 2000 RPMs it is extremely difficult to make any throttle adjustments. Often, at off-plane/no-wake speeds you need to just stick with one throttle setting. Trying to slow the boat down will usually end you up in neutral. Speeding up a tiny bit but still staying at a no-wake speed is near impossible - overcoming the stickiness means you end up with too much throttle. Slowing it down might get you in neutral again. (see the frustration here?)

I'm wondering if it could be something wrong with the gear lockout thingy in the throttle lever itself?

Any ideas, preferably some DIY checks I could make? The boat will be back at the dealer for some other warranty work however that won't be until the end of the season. Would love to have this fixed sooner.