Beta 14 throttle linkage slack

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As in thread title, full forward is not giving max throttle but connection looks OK at both ends. It is as if the cable is gradually getting longer, it is a problem that has got worse over the last week.

Where in the cable is this 'apparent stretch' (for want of a better term) likely to be coming from, morse end or engine end? I can't see an obvious issue at either end.

- W
 
Unless the inner cable or outer sheath is on the point of disintegration, I can't see how serious stretch can occur anywhere. More likely, I'd think, the locknut of the adjuster screw at the terminal of the outer sheath (at one or both ends) is loose, and it's progressively going out of adjustment (i.e. outer effectively getting shorter), or there is something amiss about the way the end of the cable inner is secured, probably at the engine control lever end. .

In any case, I'd have thought starting point would be to re-adjust the end fitting to give the correct full travel of the lever on the engine.,
 
LittleSister said:
Unless the inner cable or outer sheath is on the point of disintegration, I can't see how serious stretch can occur anywhere. More likely, I'd think, the locknut of the adjuster screw at the terminal of the outer sheath (at one or both ends) is loose, and it's progressively going out of adjustment (i.e. outer effectively getting shorter), or there is something amiss about the way the end of the cable inner is secured, probably at the engine control lever end. .

In any case, I'd have thought starting point would be to re-adjust the end fitting to give the correct full travel of the lever on the engine.,
Click to expand...

Thanks, that tallies with my own thinking. Will have a closer look when we get to anchor or start sailing, hard to adjust anything with the engine running.

- W
 
You, or A N Other can operate the throttle by hand. Disconnect the throttle cable and rev up the engine by hand. If it does not rev up the issue is not the morse cable but 'something else'. You can have the same issue with a choked (blocked) exhaust elbow. If it is the elbow it will get worse. The blockage is hard and very difficult to remove (except with acid - not something you will have on the boat and not a practice to conduct on a boat.

The morse cable itself is simply a stainless wire and it will not stretch. The wire is attached at each end with fittings, usually stainless and bigger then the wire - they will not stretch either. As LittleSister says - check that the end fittings, that either or boat both are secure.

If the engine is difficult to access at sea - too many moving parts - rig up a temporary throttle cable with string, or wire - you are only trying to define the problem not, necessarily, a long term solution. Our throttle cable broke - we motored for an hour up a river with a string cabe replacement, run using a series of little blocks and out of a stern hatch to the helm.

When our elbow blocked the engine simply would not rev over a bit more than tick over. It seemed to go from perfect to lacking oomph very quickly.

My money is on the engine.

Jonathan
 
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I had assumed that the question was, as titled, about the throttle linkage. I agree with Neeves, though, that a failure to achieve maximum revs is not necessarily a problem with the throttle linkage.

If the cable is operating the lever on the engine correctly, it could be blocked exhaust, as Neeves mentions, or (most likely?) fouled hull and/or prop, or inadequate fuel (partially blocked filter?) or air supply, etc.
 
It's definitely the cable/connection. I can get full revs by operating the lever on the engine manually.

Will address the problem fully when we are alongside tomorrow. At the moment too busy enjoying a glass of wine in a beautiful secluded anchorage.



- W
 
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