Flybridge throttle not working

[Cap’n Mainwaring]

Hi all,

first post so hope someone may be able to help out? I have a Princess 35 flybridge, an oldie but gold and has faired me well but yesterday the starboard throttle on the flybridge suddenly went. It still engages the first ‘click’ so the drive is working fore and aft on tickover but no acceleration beyond that, there’s a definite loss of resistance on the throttle which leads me to believe its a linkage issue and the lower helm controls are all fine. Preliminary investigation of the control unit doesn’t seem to show anything but haven’t been able to pull the unit apart yet to fully investigate.
I thought I’d try here to see if anyone else has had similar problems before or knows what the issue may be before I pull everything apart!
Thanks in advance.

 

[markc]

Each engine has 2 cables, one for gearbox, the other for throttle.You probably need to find the linkage. that connects the cables from both helms and allows just a single cable for gearbox and the other for throttle to run to the engine. You could well find that the flybridge throttle cable has been detached from the linkage, or it may have snapped. More likely the problem is here rather than the control head. Linkage could be behind sofa backrest. Follow from engine backwards

 

[Cap’n Mainwaring]

That’s great advice, thanks for the reply. I’m guessing that if it’s snapped then replacing is going to be a pretty arduous task routing back up to the helm but fingers crossed! I’ll feedback when I’m able to start dismantling.
thanks.

 

[scottie]

possibly worn control mechanism
Do you start engine from that position?
are the controls the type that you push in centre to to allow revs in neutral

 

[Cap’n Mainwaring]

Hi,

Always started from neutral (if that’s what you mean) and they are the push in type, yes.
thanks.

 

[scottie]

My thoughts are that if you have the older type with red knobs the plastic knob swells and sticks causing the throttle to stay in the disengaged position and is a very common problem
not much you can do for long term solution except replace the mechanism which is available separately from complete control however the lever is likely to either fall off or bind on so it may be a case of buying a single control and transferring the top cover

 

[Cap’n Mainwaring]

thanks for the response Scottie and Mark,

So, I’ve now had time to pull everything apart…the throttle assembly all seems fine and having traced the cables as best I can from the flybridge it appears it has its own set independent of the lower helm controls, no linkages anywhere other than at respective termination points. I did however notice that I was able to pull the cable through at the throttle which suggests to me the ‘cable’ which is a thin rod is broken somewhere in the sheath, has anyone encountered this? I can’t do this on any of the other throttle cables.
It looks like replacing the entire ‘cable’ would be a nightmare as it runs up into the flybridge side wall and would require some extensive removal of internal panels to get at to remove and re-route.
Does anyone know if it’s possible to pull out the damaged cable without removing the plastic sheath and thread a new one through although I appreciate it’s a long shot. Hope that makes some sense?

thanks.

 

[jrudge]

I am sure that is it possible - the sheath is designed to take the cable - the issue will be I suspect how that cable terminates.

 

[scottie]

No chance whatsoever the rod ends are not reswageable
its a new cable I am afraid
the size is usually marked just in from the invariably the more difficult one
using the old cable as a mouse may work