Stiff Throttle

[Bert]

The throttle on my 1999 150 Johnson is very stiff. I disconnected the throttle cable and moved it by hand, it is very hard to advance. The cables and binnacle control move very easily when disconnected. It appears that the stiffness is in the linkage on the motor, not in the cables as I had suspected. What should I be checking on the motor.

 

[fireman57]

Re: Stiff Throttle

Follow them back to where they hook up to the engine and see if the arm on the engine is binding or rubbing against something it shouldn't be. Can you shift it by hand easily with the cable off the engine?

 

[F_R]

Re: Stiff Throttle

Simple. Since you have narrowed it down to the motor by disconnecting the cable, now wiggle/feel or disassemble the linkage parts on the motor till you find the tight bushing. Try not to change any adjustable adjustments, and if possible, do one item at a time. This kind of problem is generally caused by corrosion around a plastic bushing, which squeezes the bushing tight against the shaft.

 

[Bert]

Re: Stiff Throttle

Thanks guys, I was a little bit leary of messing with the linkage on the motor. Is there anything I shouldn't mess with, anything that will change the timing or idle speed.

 

[fireman57]

Re: Stiff Throttle

The worst that can happen is you have to readjust your cable after you find out what is sticking. Make sure you put everythng back on the way it came off. If you run into problems there are plenty of people here that will guide you.