Stiff throttle/gear lever

[Georgio]

Having not used the boat/engine for some months (because it’s been ashore for 6 months) I think the gear/throttle system is a little more stiff than is should be.

Can I lube the control cables or it is just a case of cleaning and applying grease/oil to the mechanism at the back of the throttle/gear lever (it’s the commonly seen Teleflex type connected to a Yanmar 2GM)

 

[KellysEye]

If you can access the top of the cable pour lots of machine oil down it, then machine oil the moving parts on the gearbox. That's what I did when I had the same problem. Don't use grease.

 

[prv]

I reckon it's worth disconnecting the cables at both ends, so that you can separately test the gearbox itself, the cable on its own, and the Morse control mechanism. This should show up which has become stiff.

On KS it was the Morse control that had got a bit rusty, and rather gunged up with old grease and detritus. I dismantled and cleaned it, and reassembled with a light coating of spray grease (the stuff that goes on liquid then the solvent evaporates leaving solid grease).

Pete

 

[Georgio]

Good plan PRV, although I take a look at the back of the level first (there is a cover over it), if it's rusty and gunged up I guess I can clean that up and all will be fine. It's not very stiff just stiffer than I remember so want to sort it out so it doesn't get any worse.

 

[Tranona]

The cable itself is self lubricating but the lining of the outer can wear and it can get gunge in it. The usual is the control mechanism which needs a clean.

 

[awol]

Just had the same problem. All worked perfectly, as far as I can remember, when she was lifted out in October but the lever was very stiff and the neutral knob stuck last week. It was all in the lever - stripping, cleaning out the dried grease and relubing has brought it all back to normal.

Edit: Watch out for the bouncing detente ball and spring!