jasonejasone
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- May 4, 2020
- Messages
- 45
Mercontrol Adjustments / Clarification on How to Operate - 1969 Starcraft / 1976 Merc 65HP
Good morning!
I was hoping to get some expert advice / clarification on this Mercontrol setup I have on my 1969 Starcraft.
These controls are hooked up to a 1976 Merc 65HP outboard motor.
So, I have a few questions to ask... any help / advice / clarification is appreciated!
My basic understanding of using these controls is that the small lever is the idle adjust, and you use it along with the choke button just to get the motor started and warmed up, then the idle lever can stay all the way down and you use the bigger, throttle lever to engage forward / reverse and give the motor throttle.
I do use it for that, but here's the issue: Once I get the motor started, I will push the big lever forward to engage the forward gear. I have to push that big lever all the way forward, and even give it another good, hard push to get the boat to actually get going. Basically, once the motor starts, I push that throttle lever all the way forward and the motor doesn't rev up or move any faster.
It's not until I push that throttle lever a bit harder down - even after it seems it is pushed all the way forward (to 9 o'clock if you look at it like a clock face) and often push the idle lever up as well, before it starts moving. When I want to slow down, the big lever doesn't slow it down much, I have to lower the idle lever to get the boat to slow down.
My understanding is that once the motor is started and warmed up, the idle adjust lever should more or less be all the way down once the motor warms up and has a good idle... but I am pushing the throttle lever all the way forward, and then also raising the idle adjust in order to get the motor to rev up and get the boat on plane.
I think that the cables need some adjustment. My suspicion is that I need to adjust the throttle cable - I think it's just not opening the throttle for whatever reason... and that's why I have to raise the idle adjustment lever to actually get some gas flowing into the motor.
Another possibility is I'm just not getting enough fuel for some reason, or maybe even my fuel lines are old, or there's not a good seal in the fuel system... I think all of these could be the culprit, but it really feels like the tension on the cables just isn't right either way.
...or there's always the possibility that my understanding of how to use the Mercontrols is completely wrong. Maybe I should push the big lever all the way forward and then use the small lever to actually give it power?
I did search the forum for previous Mercontrol threads (man, people seem to really hate these things lol) and couldn't find much related to my questions... so any help or advice is appreciated!
I also broke my key off in the ignition, but it still lets me turn the ignition and start the thing so I will worry about that another day!!!
Good morning!
I was hoping to get some expert advice / clarification on this Mercontrol setup I have on my 1969 Starcraft.
These controls are hooked up to a 1976 Merc 65HP outboard motor.
So, I have a few questions to ask... any help / advice / clarification is appreciated!
My basic understanding of using these controls is that the small lever is the idle adjust, and you use it along with the choke button just to get the motor started and warmed up, then the idle lever can stay all the way down and you use the bigger, throttle lever to engage forward / reverse and give the motor throttle.
I do use it for that, but here's the issue: Once I get the motor started, I will push the big lever forward to engage the forward gear. I have to push that big lever all the way forward, and even give it another good, hard push to get the boat to actually get going. Basically, once the motor starts, I push that throttle lever all the way forward and the motor doesn't rev up or move any faster.
It's not until I push that throttle lever a bit harder down - even after it seems it is pushed all the way forward (to 9 o'clock if you look at it like a clock face) and often push the idle lever up as well, before it starts moving. When I want to slow down, the big lever doesn't slow it down much, I have to lower the idle lever to get the boat to slow down.
My understanding is that once the motor is started and warmed up, the idle adjust lever should more or less be all the way down once the motor warms up and has a good idle... but I am pushing the throttle lever all the way forward, and then also raising the idle adjust in order to get the motor to rev up and get the boat on plane.
I think that the cables need some adjustment. My suspicion is that I need to adjust the throttle cable - I think it's just not opening the throttle for whatever reason... and that's why I have to raise the idle adjustment lever to actually get some gas flowing into the motor.
Another possibility is I'm just not getting enough fuel for some reason, or maybe even my fuel lines are old, or there's not a good seal in the fuel system... I think all of these could be the culprit, but it really feels like the tension on the cables just isn't right either way.
...or there's always the possibility that my understanding of how to use the Mercontrols is completely wrong. Maybe I should push the big lever all the way forward and then use the small lever to actually give it power?
I did search the forum for previous Mercontrol threads (man, people seem to really hate these things lol) and couldn't find much related to my questions... so any help or advice is appreciated!
I also broke my key off in the ignition, but it still lets me turn the ignition and start the thing so I will worry about that another day!!!