Thread: Hard To Put In Forward

With the motor in the water what is the RPMs at idle and in gear? Remember when you shift an outboard you do not ease it into gear, you put it in gear with a firm motion.

I'm sorry Bill I couldn't tell you, it's an 82 model and no gauge. I'm scared if I do it too fast I may break something.

Bill, if it helps any, I have an '80 'rude 100HP and it's supposed to idle at 1000 rpm according to the book on it. Doubt a 90 would be much different. Also have a Johnny 85HP '77 and it's about the same around 800 for it. Both of these would be about the same as an "82.
Love my old fat boys, they just hardly ever quit.

sounds like the shifter linkage needs to be adjusted a little so it goes into gear just before the throttle opens up also possible that you need new shifter cable as they sometimes get worn out and don't allow for proper shifting.

Originally Posted by Eatmorecrappie

I'm sorry Bill I couldn't tell you, it's an 82 model and no gauge. I'm scared if I do it too fast I may break something.

You will break something a lot quicker by doing it slow. Gears in an outboard are not synchronized like in a car or truck transmission. That's why they grind when slowly putting it in gear.

I think that the idle is set to high. One way to slow it down is on the right side of the motor that is if you are looking from the front of motor is there is a cable with a small wheel type device that will adjust the throttle (idle). While in neutral you could try adjusting this to a slower idle and then see if it goes into gear easier. Now on left side the cable is the forward neutral reverse cable and most also have that same way to adjust but I would try to idle it down before adjusting with this cable also don't adjust this cable while motor is running as it might go into gear while adjusting. Now I am no certificated boat mechanic. I hope this helps.

Wannabe Fisherman those are both new cables, throttle and shifting .

Scrat, when I first turn it on the idle is fine, it's when I go to put it in forward it gets too much gas before it gets into gear. I will look at it today and try what you suggest. I will keep you posted. Thank you all for your help.

Did this problem just start or has it always been this way since you said all of the controls and cables were changed out? All of this sounds like the controls is not set properly. The throttle should not advance until the gear cable goes into gear. You could just take the cover off and while the motor is not started or even in the water have someone push the control handle and you watch what it is doing at the motor. If the throttle cable moves before the gear cable then you will know the problem is in the control box (they are adjustments in there also) and not at the motor.

Scrat it has always been like this since I changed the cables. Thanks for your help.