'71 800 thunderbolt throttle advice needed

[eyeshyed]

Hey guys. Been reading your forums for a long time now but this is my first time posting.
Im sure eventually i will be able to answer my own question but i feel it will save me a lot of hassel to just ask the experts.
THE PROBLEM.
My start throttle and my forward/reverse throttle are screwed up. when i push the throttle forward it goes all the way but the boat will only move a little faster, so then i have to move (or start "hitting") the start throttle forward. In other words i have to use both throttles to move...? Any ideas? thanks guys.
p.s. How are these motors? I love it so far compared to my johnson, but im just curious of what their known problems are cause if Iv learned anything on this site its that every motor has its certain problems.

 

[badger111]

Re: '71 800 thunderbolt throttle advice needed

My father has a '74 800 and it runs sweet-as-a-nut. They are great reliable outboards if looked after. If I was you, I'd remove the throttle and gear cables and operate the outboard on muffs manualy to make sure it goes in and out of gears okay and that you can operate the throttle okay - If it does, then your problem will proabably be your control box/cables/adjustment.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: '71 800 thunderbolt throttle advice needed

I would suspect you now have a damaged controller if it wasn't before. It is designed so that you can't operate both the fast idle lever AND the throttle/gear lever at the same time.

You could have a seized shift cable or throttle cable or both.

Could be a linkage problem on the motor itself.

I would be removing the controller and taking the back cover off to inspect the inner workings. I would suspect something is broken.

 

[eyeshyed]

Re: '71 800 thunderbolt throttle advice needed

Thanks guys. I suspected that something was probably broken. But was hoping it was just a really poor adjustment. Il start taking things apart when i get the chance. thanks again...now on to figuring out what prop im supposed to have since the original spun and melted the rubber so bad i can't figure out the prop number. If it was even the correct one in the first place.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: '71 800 thunderbolt throttle advice needed

I would check to see that the cables are not switched. The shift cable should move first, followed by the throttle cable, as the throttle lever is pushed forward. Observe the cable movement, with the wrap cowl removed.