Mechanic says to whaa?

[El Capitan]

Great running 1970 mercruiser 120hp/2.5L.
Tune up last year included plugs, wires, coil, etc.
post tune up developed quick brief stumble on hard take off ie pulling up skier.
We reset timing to spec and connected mercruiser intake/carb cleaner to intake and cleaned carb.
Using ethanol free gas, it is fresh and has seafoam.
Also replaced throttle cable last year because it wanted to die from neutral to reverse and would at times.

Fast forward to yesterday, was out for cruising and sandbar on river.
At initial start at dock she stumbled a little I may have flooded but she idled fine and ran great.

Coming back to dock as I slowly reduced speed to idle she started to sputter like she wanted to stall but I increased rpms slightly to avoid.

I told mechanic I suspect I need a cable adjustment to shift interrupter switch.

He says it’s prolly gunked a little and to work shifter to forward neutral and reverse over and over without pushing forward to inject fuel into engine, just forward and back about 50 times to see if it frees up.

I appreciate saving me money but I maintain this little girl with open check book and he knows it.

Is this procedure kosher or is he putting me off?

 

[Mr Mac]

Coming back to dock as I slowly reduced speed to idle she started to sputter like she wanted to stall but I increased rpms slightly to avoid.

As an avid motorcyclist for many years, I can say that the mechanic is correct about a sticking cable, though a bit if WD40 down the cable first is the normal remedy for freeing one up. That said, it really doesn't account for the sputtering engine as the cable is still only a year old. It sounds more like a sticking float or some other malady, not the cable.

 

[Bt Doctur]

We reset timing to spec and connected mercruiser intake/carb cleaner to intake and cleaned carb.

No, you did not clean the carb internally

Also replaced throttle cable last year because it wanted to die from neutral to reverse and would at times.

Throttle cable had nothing to do with stalling

I told mechanic I suspect I need a cable adjustment to shift interrupter switch.

only activates coming out of gear, in the water


Is this procedure kosher or is he putting me off?

You need a lower shift cable or find out where the corrosion is and you need a better mechanic

 

[El Capitan]

To clarify, we replaced the shift cable not throttle cable. Also when we cleaned intake we also shot carb cleaner into carb as I worked throttle to avoid stalling.

Shift interrupt switch I thought was to interrupt for split second to put into gear to avoid damage to shaft/splines etc.

The shifter is very easy to move, not hard or stiff, it is difficult to find the shift spot for neutral, sometimes I get into reverse not meaning to, in other words the area for the shifter for neutral position seems very small and its very easy to go from Forward to reverse and miss neutral if not careful.

For context, I ride a 1970 Harley shovelhead, rigid, jockey shift w foot clutch, so I have very sensitive feel for shifting. This boat's shifting changed dramatically in the positioning of the throttle shifter itself after they installed the new shift cable.

Will look for other mechanic. Thank you.

 

[El Capitan]

 

[El Capitan]

 

[scoflaw]

Sputtering has nothing to do with your shifter and cables. Overhaul your carb is where I would head.

 

[El Capitan]

Sputtering has nothing to do with your shifter and cables. Overhaul your carb is where I would head.

Yeah, I'll have to look into someone for that, I'm not good with tiny parts, my eyesight isn't what it used to be. Thanks!

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

I have a 88 240 sorrento with 5.7 and alpha drive. Broke a lower shift cable 3 years ago on water and was towed in. Had shop install new cable. End of last year would die going into reverse. This year would die in forward and reverse. Get a second person to watch knock down switch on assembly while you shift in f & r. . If switch does not pop back into center then its a lower cable. Replaced lower cable 2 weeks ago and noticed rub on old cable cover where it comes in from transome. After 4 trips out would die when shifting again. Looked down again and saw same rub mark. Looks like cable is rubbing on back of motor hub and waisting cables. I was able to salvage this new one for this year but will have to replace again soon. Installed a 1/2 braided house over cable to protect from hub rub and zip tied it for clearance. Looks to be when i trim drive cable is good. Tuck drive back in pushes cable to hub. Just a thought to check yours.

 

[Loyd Dinneen]

Spraying carb cleaner into your carb does nothing for your carb it goes straight into your intake manifold. If you want it to go into the carb it has to be put into your fuel tank. Try some Seaform in relation to the amount of fuel in the tank, or as sclflaw suggested have the carb overhauled. 16 oz/ 12 gallons.

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

What i do on all my boats. Remove water seperators. Fill with 3/4 sea foam and 1/4 gas. Start motor and run at 2000 rpm for 5 minutes. They run awesome after that