challenger88
Recruit
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2008
- Messages
- 4
Hello
I am new to the board and was searching around for help with a control box issue. I sent a private message to one of the members because I couldn't figure out how to post a new thread. Anyway...after a slow start I now know how to post a new thread. I hope this is in the correct forum. : )
I recently purchased a 17.5 foot 1988 Challenger with a 90 hp Mercury (1985 in line 6 cyl). It is my first boat and I am enjoying learning about boating and how to work on them. :redface: I have done some basic wiring work...replaced some old switches...and navigation lights. Replaced a bunch of screws and bolts with stainless and have repared the Minnkota trolling motor. I think I have worn out one of my elbows polishing the gel coat and waxing. I had the steering gear replaced recently as it was the original unit and was sticking a little. On a positive note the mechanic said that was an indication the teering gear was well maintained, if it saw 19 yrs of operation. Other than some of the routine maintenance of lubricating things and changing out the oil in the lower case, I haven't had to do anything major.
Last Sunday I was out on the lake and pulling into the launching area when it felt like my motor was ..for lack of a better word..slipping. At first I thought I might have accidentally bumped the button on the the throttle that disengages the drive while I was coming in...there were a lot of boats out that day and it was pretty rough. Anyway I put the boat in nuetral and checked the cables. They seemd to be fine..nothing loose. When I went to engage the engine it revved but would not engage. I went back to nuetral and then tried reverse...same thing. Just about the time I thought 'Hmm this isn't good' the engine started to engage in reverse. It engaged pretty quickly and caused the engine to stall. I could not disengage the drive using the little square button on the shifter arm...( I am still learning terminology.) It will not depress. The shifter seems to be stuck in reverse. The control box must have a saftey switch or something because the engine will not turn over while it is in gear. Not sure why I thought if I started the engine it might "release"...I guess that's why there is a saftey switch. Good thing I was close to the dock and my trolling motor had plenty of charge.
Anyway...I was wondering if it is possible something came loose inside the control box that caused the drive not to engage in the first place and then to engage and become stuck. I was going to try and take the control box apart to check things out...but have no idea how one is put together and wanted to make sure I don't take more apart than I need to or worse jump into something half blind and then spend several hours wishing I would have spent a minute understanding what it is I am working on. One lesson I learned while re-wiring. When replacing the switch on the automatic live well control, I accidentally wired the power from both batteries into the same circuit and just about blew my Hummingbird unit. Luckily, it was installed properly and I just blew a fuse.
It is a QucikSilver control box. Not sure of the model but the mechanic who replaced the steering gear mentioned it looked like the "original" unit. At the time, he checked it out and said it was a little old but operating correctly. I didn't see any kind of markings on the outside of the box to determine what the model is. There is a tilt/trim switch on the shifter/throttle arm as well as a "trailer" button. The key for the starter has an electric choke built in. Could anyone recomend any links or diagrams I could read to educate myself on what the control unit actually "controls" before I try working on the control box ? Maybe some kind of "control box 101" or "control box for dummies". :redface: Or if this sounds familiar to someone, maybe a guess as to what might be the likely cause. The only thing I can think that I changed is when I was working on the wiring, I moved the cables coming out of the control box so they wouldn't be in the way of the wiring harness. I didn't force them or bend them just scooted them a couple of inches to one side...don't know if that helps jsut wanted to throw that out there.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I will try and get a picture of the unit , if that would help.
Thanks again.
I am new to the board and was searching around for help with a control box issue. I sent a private message to one of the members because I couldn't figure out how to post a new thread. Anyway...after a slow start I now know how to post a new thread. I hope this is in the correct forum. : )
I recently purchased a 17.5 foot 1988 Challenger with a 90 hp Mercury (1985 in line 6 cyl). It is my first boat and I am enjoying learning about boating and how to work on them. :redface: I have done some basic wiring work...replaced some old switches...and navigation lights. Replaced a bunch of screws and bolts with stainless and have repared the Minnkota trolling motor. I think I have worn out one of my elbows polishing the gel coat and waxing. I had the steering gear replaced recently as it was the original unit and was sticking a little. On a positive note the mechanic said that was an indication the teering gear was well maintained, if it saw 19 yrs of operation. Other than some of the routine maintenance of lubricating things and changing out the oil in the lower case, I haven't had to do anything major.
Last Sunday I was out on the lake and pulling into the launching area when it felt like my motor was ..for lack of a better word..slipping. At first I thought I might have accidentally bumped the button on the the throttle that disengages the drive while I was coming in...there were a lot of boats out that day and it was pretty rough. Anyway I put the boat in nuetral and checked the cables. They seemd to be fine..nothing loose. When I went to engage the engine it revved but would not engage. I went back to nuetral and then tried reverse...same thing. Just about the time I thought 'Hmm this isn't good' the engine started to engage in reverse. It engaged pretty quickly and caused the engine to stall. I could not disengage the drive using the little square button on the shifter arm...( I am still learning terminology.) It will not depress. The shifter seems to be stuck in reverse. The control box must have a saftey switch or something because the engine will not turn over while it is in gear. Not sure why I thought if I started the engine it might "release"...I guess that's why there is a saftey switch. Good thing I was close to the dock and my trolling motor had plenty of charge.
Anyway...I was wondering if it is possible something came loose inside the control box that caused the drive not to engage in the first place and then to engage and become stuck. I was going to try and take the control box apart to check things out...but have no idea how one is put together and wanted to make sure I don't take more apart than I need to or worse jump into something half blind and then spend several hours wishing I would have spent a minute understanding what it is I am working on. One lesson I learned while re-wiring. When replacing the switch on the automatic live well control, I accidentally wired the power from both batteries into the same circuit and just about blew my Hummingbird unit. Luckily, it was installed properly and I just blew a fuse.
It is a QucikSilver control box. Not sure of the model but the mechanic who replaced the steering gear mentioned it looked like the "original" unit. At the time, he checked it out and said it was a little old but operating correctly. I didn't see any kind of markings on the outside of the box to determine what the model is. There is a tilt/trim switch on the shifter/throttle arm as well as a "trailer" button. The key for the starter has an electric choke built in. Could anyone recomend any links or diagrams I could read to educate myself on what the control unit actually "controls" before I try working on the control box ? Maybe some kind of "control box 101" or "control box for dummies". :redface: Or if this sounds familiar to someone, maybe a guess as to what might be the likely cause. The only thing I can think that I changed is when I was working on the wiring, I moved the cables coming out of the control box so they wouldn't be in the way of the wiring harness. I didn't force them or bend them just scooted them a couple of inches to one side...don't know if that helps jsut wanted to throw that out there.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I will try and get a picture of the unit , if that would help.
Thanks again.