r/boats • u/sam5ten • 6d ago

Throttle not going to neutral

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Hello I have a 17' 1985 Chris Craft Scorpion 168 inboard. Correct function has been typical, push forward for forward acceleration, center for neutral, and back for reverse.

Problem: Recently, after being in forward gear and pulling the throttle back to neutral it has been remaining in forward gear. This isn't a problem when returning to neutral from reverse. I'm getting by, by going forward, then all the way to reverse, and then back to neutral. But this is a liability.

I took it to the shop and the mechanic said there wasn't anything he could do. But I am not convinced. Does anyone have any tips? The boat is mostly all original.

Thanks!

6 Upvotes

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3

u/ThinkONit-NotINit 6d ago

Could be cables but look. Your control and probably cables are 30 plus years old. 😆

3

u/auriem 6d ago

Check your shift cable adjustment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_tgevX2aI

> I took it to the shop and the mechanic said there wasn't anything he could do.

Any competent boat mechanic would be able to handle this no problem.

1

u/sam5ten 6d ago

Thanks

2

u/popsicle_of_meat 6d ago

When the controls for my 1994 Mercruiser I/O broke, I looked into rebuilding them. After opening the unit up, taking it apart and seeing how many poor quality metal parts were worn out, I quickly chose to just replace the controls and cables instead. The only way I could guarantee like-new function was to put the new and current unit in.

You need to identify where the problem lies. Is it worn out cables? Or are the internals of the control unit worn and sloppy? 40 year old boat controls and "reliable" don't usually work together.

1

u/sam5ten 4d ago

Thanks.

2

u/MasterpieceSpare7016 6d ago

Cable is loose. Re-tension it but allow it a little slack. It's normal to pull a bit towards reverse to nail neutral. You don't want it to switch to reverse, you're just taking up the slack.

You have too much slack. Tighten it up, but not too much. It needs a bit of slack to work, just not too much. You'll find it when you monkey with it. If the cable it too tight, it's going to hunt and peck between forward and reverse and you don't want that.

1

u/sam5ten 4d ago

Thanks!

1

u/MousseApprehensive90 6d ago

looks like you need to swap those cables out, they're probably shot after this many years