Yamaha 9.9 HP Reverse Poblem

[davidpbo]

At the end of our trip last year, we had to reverse hard against the wind for a while out of a marina. The engine was not happy and was jumping around as though trying to lift. I took it off the boat and had it serviced recently and reported the problem, put it back on the boat and have just launched and used it again in revese and the same problem is still there.

I don't think it is an issue with the engine, Our engine is in a locker and the leg cannot be raised in situ. As far as I can tell the lock tab to stop it lifting is in the right posittion although it is covered by a pieceof metal fiitted by me to stop the engine turning. I think the tab should be horizontal normally and pushed donw to allow the leg to lift. Can anyone confirm that for sure please? That is my understanding form the manual and the piece of metal was in position for the service, so any issue with that should have shown up when run in a tank.

With the morse controls disconnected and reverse engaged and the throttle operated within the engine all is good, the engine runs in full reverse without jumping. If I reconnect the throttle to the (Yamaha) morse control that is ok. I engage the gear lever with the morse and open the throttle it imediately starts jumping and is I think trying to jump out of gear. That despite the gear lever (On the engine) apparently being in the same position as when operated by the remote lever. It seems like it is some sort of interaction between the two. The cables to the remote do have very tight bends but it has been like that since installation and I was not aware of eny problem until last year.

I have tried using the adjustment available at the engine end of the control cables.

Is there any ajustment with the remote lever? I can't remember how to get that and the cover off despite haveing fitted it, my guess is there is a lcok screw for the lever but I can't remember where? Sorry for any typos etc. Trying to sort this quickly.

 

[penfold]

If it works without the remote there's nowt wrong with the engine, it's all in the adjustment of the remote cables or the levers inside the control box. Most control units have a choice of positions for the gear select cable to give a range of movement.

 

[davidpbo]

If it works without the remote there's nowt wrong with the engine, it's all in the adjustment of the remote cables or the levers inside the control box. Most control units have a choice of positions for the gear select cable to give a range of movement.

That is interesting, I did get the remote off and found some more adjustment on the cable, but did not notice anything that might adjust the range of movement, it was just an arrangement of cams but I was not looking.

The situation is improved but I don't feel it is 100%. In as much when I engage full reverse revs it still sounds as though it iis jumping. It is definitety the gears. I am wondering whether I chipped one/them last year. What happens when with full reverse is the engine tries to lift slightly on the bracket (Screws are tight , bracket substantial and I faced front and back with ali plate).

I thinl that movement is enough to affect how firmly the engine is in gear. I don't really want to adjust the cable any more as the eyes at the end which engage with the gear and throttle levers are screwed on 10mm out of 25mm and one end is threaded in plastic. I also don't what to upset forward engagement.

 

[penfold]

If you have the back off the control unit move the control lever and watch what the cable levers do; the gear shift moves first, followed by the throttle. The gearshift lever usually has a number of different holes(or a slot allowing adjustment) the cable can be attached to to give a range of movement, although if it is a proprietary Yamaha unit this may not be the case if they design all their outboards to need the same cable movement to engage and disengage gear correctly. In the latter case it's possible the control unit is wearing out and without any adjustment then replacement may be needed, although I'd give it a good clean and lubricate it first to see if that helped.

 

[Caraway]

I don't think it is an issue with the engine, Our engine is in a locker and the leg cannot be raised in situ. As far as I can tell the lock tab to stop it lifting is in the right posittion although it is covered by a pieceof metal fiitted by me to stop the engine turning. I think the tab should be horizontal normally and pushed donw to allow the leg to lift. Can anyone confirm that for sure please? That is my understanding form the manual and the piece of metal was in position for the service, so any issue with that should have shown up when run in a tank.

If you can define what is the problem it should be easier. Is it the reverse clamp on the bracket that is not engaged or is it actually not engaging reverse gear?
Can you wedge some timber down the back of the leg in the locker to prevent the motor jumping up when reverse is engaged?
Can you disconnect the gear lever from the cable and manually move the lever into reverse?

I had a Yamaha and remember that engaging gear should be done smartly, not trying to feed it in.

 

[davidpbo]

The engine and remote were bought new in 2016 and has had light use. Control head inside looked fine. It is a Yamaha Engine and Remote bought together from a main dealer.

I don't think the engine is lifting although the routing is not ideal given that the sits about 20cm in front of the engine offset with 2 sharp 180 bends. It was the only way to fit it.
I will see if I can find the picture and up load it.

 

[penfold]

Your description sounds pretty tortuous for the cables, it may be asking too much of them and has worn out the gear cable even through light use, creating enough lost motion to not engage gear reliably.

 

[davidpbo]

Your description sounds pretty tortuous for the cables, it may be asking too much of them and has worn out the gear cable even through light use, creating enough lost motion to not engage gear reliably.

Fair comment unfortunately it was the only way. There is not excessive movement in the outer cable and it moves as freely as the throttle cable.

 

[alahol2]

To me, that sounds like the result of cavitation at the prop. Our Yam 9.9 used to do similar if pushed hard in reverse.
Yours is a more modern version than ours was but there used to be an adjustment to the gear linkage half way down the leg.