Lost reverse

[Bronco99]

My throttle won't go into reverse when I attempt to to change gear it makes a crunching sound and doesn't engage. I have a Honda 15 currently on the regent's canal at Camden. Is there are any affordable assistance please?

 

[Seastoke]

Will it go in reverse with the engine off.

 

[Bronco99]

Yes the throttle moves freely with the engine off and and will rev without difficulty also. The problem is when engaging in gear.

 

[Seastoke]

Yes the throttle moves freely with the engine off and and will rev without difficulty also. The problem is when engaging in gear.

Have the revs increased

 

[Bronco99]

Yes I had it lowered back on the Thames because of the crunching of the gears and jumping of the motor. I think he went too far the other way.i remember where the screw was but I think he disengaged the lever on the motor and idled when he adjusted it. Does that sound right?

 

[C08]

It sounds as if the gear cable needs adjusting - they can stretch or otherwise lose adjustment.

 

[Seastoke]

Yes I had it lowered back on the Thames because of the crunching of the gears and jumping of the motor. I think he went too far the other way.i remember where the screw was but I think he disengaged the lever on the motor and idled when he adjusted it. Does that sound right?

You need to tell the full story.

 

[Milgrip]

If the idle speed is set too fast the gears would crunch both in forward and reverse.
Don't understand what you mean by : (but I think he disengaged the lever on the motor and idled when he adjusted it. Does that sound right? Who and what are you referring to?

 

[Bronco99]

He disengaged the throttle cable from the motor before turning the screw which lowered the revs. At least that's the cable I think he disengaged.

 

[Milgrip]

OK, It crunches when selecting reverse, what does it do when selecting forward?
What do you think may have caused the crunch in reverse gear? has someone been fiddling, has it just happened, have you just bought it this Honda or has it always behaved like this.
It is difficult to help diagnose problems without more relative information.

 

[Bronco99]

The problem is when I attempt to reverse. No problems with forwards or I would've outlined that as part of the issue. It seems to have just happened although like I said my revs were lowered not long ago for reasons I've mentioned. The Honda is not new by any means although I had the throttle cables replaced soon after I bought the boat this year. The mechanic who installed them says this will need adjusting periodically which he thinks is my problem. I have driven the boat from Bath to London and he is in Bath. I am trying to reach out for some assistance to get this fixed where I am without being saddled with call out fees which I don't have right now.

 

[C08]

Normally the reverse gear is engaged by the gear selector cable PUSHING at the selector lever so if you adjust the cable it needs to be made a little longer in the neutral position, so as to push reverse totally into engagement. There is often only about 8mm between neutral and forward and 8mm neutral and reverse. You normally do the adjustment at the control box or handle but you can often do it do it at the lever on the engine if that is more accessible. Once you identify the correct cable it is quite an easy job, just do it a little perhaps 3mm and see how you go on.

 

[Bronco99]

To update on this thread, most of what was suggested here was spot on. To those who always insist on ever more detail, there sometimes just isn't anything more a beginner in these things can isolate. To those who gave productive suggestions, I owe you one, and will pass the knowledge I managed to work out how to adjust the selector lever and more importantly, tighten the linkage which had come loose and was, I think, the main problem. One more lesson learned and call out fee saved thanks to the plain English, non-condescending element of ybw