Outboard Controls

[alistairedw]

I took one of our club support boats out today and had a problem with the outboard engine control unit. We have wheel steering plus a forward/reverse throttle control lever.

Unfortunately the throttle lever has jammed in the forward position.

My gut feel is that as this is quite an old unit we should replace it and renew all the cables connecting it to the outboard.

Am I being too pessimistic ? How durable are these control units (particularly when they are parmanently exposed to the weather)?

 

[chippie]

My experience is that the cables give up long before the handle/control unit.
Disconnect the cables from the inboard end and see if the control lever moves smoothly.

 

[alistairedw]

Thanks chippie. Good advice.

I guess as the engine has not been used for over two months the cables could have rusted/seized up.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Ive had the cable jump off its pin inside the outboard before resulting in no drive . If its got jammed that would feel like the controll unit is stuck . If you remove the cover on the outboard and this is the problem it will stick out like a sore thumb .

 

[David2452]

"How durable are these control units (particularly when they are parmanently exposed to the weather"

Very if they are opend up and given a clean & grease every once in a while. It may be just the cables or the mechanism on the OB, disconnect at the OB and see if the controls are free at that end. Disconnect from the box and see if the cables are free. The box can probably be stripped & cleaned, regreased but cables are often anothe story & may need replacing.

David