Honda 175. neutral problems

David Hickman · 05 June 2004, 20:26

Hi all,
New 6.5 Ribcraft is A1. Everything is fine with the exception of the neutral selection. It has the Honda console mounted control box 06240-ZWS-U40 which does not have a neutral interlocking gate.
When trying to select neutral from either forward or reverse, you can easily slip from f to r without even getting into neutral at all. Just as you go to select neutral it gets very stiff, so you put more pressure on it and opps you miss it completely.
This is a real pain when you are teaching beginners!!!
Honda agent thinks that there is a better control box which should help. When the engine is not running, the shift is as easy as anything with neutral gate very smooth. I believe that this eliminates problems with the cabling but I may be wrong.
Has anyone with the 175/200/225 had problems with the gear selection or has anyone got any ideas as to what the problem might be?

Many thanks for your help.

David

Daniel TD5 · 05 June 2004, 22:00

david

i may be no help at all but i just got my new 4.5m vailant about five weeks
ago and reading all the paper work i found a section on installing the engine
which was from vailant not the mariner instuction for the engine i have. and
they said control boxes with out a neutral interlocking gate shound not be used at all i would be very worried to have a unlocked type and i would think
it would not meet any current reg,s all the honda engine i have come across
all lock ??? i would contact honda uk and ask them not the dealer
do you think its safe to have that type of set up for teaching

Nick Hearne · 05 June 2004, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel TD5

david

i may be no help at all but i just got my new 4.5m vailant about five weeks
ago and reading all the paper work i found a section on installing the engine
which was from vailant not the mariner instuction for the engine i have. and
they said control boxes with out a neutral interlocking gate shound not be used at all i would be very worried to have a unlocked type and i would think
it would not meet any current reg,s all the honda engine i have come across
all lock ??? i would contact honda uk and ask them not the dealer
do you think its safe to have that type of set up for teaching

Daniel I do not think this a reg,s problem, but not ideal for training!
Nick

Daniel TD5 · 05 June 2004, 23:09

maybe my wording was wrong i don,t think honda would be fitting any type that is not safe to use. this is what my one said in the paper work from my engine and boat

outboard remote control models
1 the remote control connected to your to your outboard must be equipped with a start in neutral only protection device. this prevents the engine from starting when the gear shft is actuated in any postition other than neutral

warning
to avoid serious injury or death from a sudden unexpected acceleration when starting your engine . the design of this outboard requires that it must have a start in neutral only protection device

try this link and ask honda uk http://www.honda.co.uk/marine/

David Hickman · 06 June 2004, 08:44

Hi all

You cannot get, apart from one manufacturer which apparently falls apart, a neutral locking control box which is console mounted in the centre of a wide double steering console. I have used this type for the last 4 years without any problems. The rib has side by side jockey seating. I am able to use the controls as well as the pupil with both of us seated on jockeys. With side mounted controls I would have to sit on the tubes which is not ideal.
There is the start in neutral protection etc etc. and it does work. My thoughts are it is in the gearbox or cable routing????

Honda do know about it so do Ribcraft etc.

tue · 06 June 2004, 11:15

Hi David

One possibility is if the motor has a shift interupt switch. On the Merc/Mariner big fourstrokes they have a micro switch which when shifting from forward to neutral, or reverse to neutral, will momenterally cut the engine to allow the gearbox to un-mesh. If this doesn't work properly or not at all it will cause the shifting to become very stiff as it fells and as the control box has no netral lock the extra force to unmesh the gearbox will cause you to jump the neutral position and go straight to the next gear.

David Hickman · 17 October 2004, 19:43

I know that this a few months old now but just to end the topic with a happy ending:-
Anyone who has a Honda V6 with an Aluminium Prop and has a stiff gear shift back into neutral, FIT A STAINLESS!!!!!!!!!
Spent 4 months teaching with a dodgy gear shift, wnet to the boat show, sopke to a man who knew, purchased a Steel Developments HT Titan 4 bladed Prop and Bob's your uncle, problem solved! Apparently the extra weight on the gearbox help neutral to be selected.
Slickest gear shift in Torbay now, well maybe not quite!! Pretty good acceleration too!!

ashleyd · 18 October 2004, 18:15

The big hondas have a neutral switch on the engine. The control units have no protection most usually state this on casing. many people who have driven my 225 find it hard to work out when it is in neutral, the position is not very positive.