Yamaha F150 not going into gear

[whackywoody]

Got a 2008 F150 on my new to me Ribeye 650S. I took it out at the weekend for the first time a couple of weekends ago and had the following symptons:

1.) Wouldn't always go into forward gear and would end up revving in neutral. It would sometimes take 3 to 4 goes before it went into gear
2.) Always went into reverse with no problems
3.) Would notice this sympton especially after I had just been in reverse
4.) Engine is running fine apart from this sympton

So I think the cause to this is one of the following:

1.) Gear cable is not adjusted correctly
2.) As a noob I am try to be gentle and have been very slow and careful pushing the lever forward into forward gear. From looking at the forums and manuals it states that it should be put into gear quickly and firmly.
3.) There is some safety feature where gear is not engaged as prop is still spinning or the engine is revving to high in idle. Don't think its this as I am getting reverse every time.
4.) Fast idle / neutral is been activated by accident. Again not sure its this as I don't think there is a fast idle.

Has anybody got any suggestions please before I talk to the stealers in the morning

Thanks

Gareth

[ring20johnson]

Sounds to me like cable adjustment. Easy fix hopefully.

[captnjack]

Cable slack.

[RIB-Teccie]

Disconnect the cable and put in and out of gear manually. Never put an outboard engine into gear slowly or it will be a new dog clutch and either forward or reverse gear. Never place it in gear above tickover speed or you will hear a loud bang, have to be towed in and presented with an eye watering bill.

If you can get the engine in and out of gear manually, it will be the adjustment, the cable itself or the control box.

[freespirit3]

Originally Posted by captnjack

Cable slack.

I agree sounds like cable / adjustment, easy to remove at the engine end and as the guys say, operate the speed controller when not connected to the engine, if it feels free then it is likely to be adjustment. The ball joints at the cable ends are threaded and can be adjusted and locked off when adjusted correctly with the lock nuts.

If they are still tight then it is either a cable that is sticking one way or the speed controller is needing some love, ie marine grease.

I have a similar issue and plan to remove my speed controller and clean out and refill with grease.

If that is still not the answer, for the cost change out the gearbox oil, always worth doing on a new boat to you, easy fix

[whackywoody]

Thanks Ribnet Forum members including Yam Man. I also think and hope its just cable slack or at worst cable sticking as it does it more when I have just been in reverse!!!

Much better advice than Yamaha UK who said hook it upto the engine diagnostics - derggggghhh!!

[freespirit3]

How did you get on?

Did you manage to cure the problem

[whackywoody]

Hi Alistair, thanks for asking. As the boat is a 4 hour round trip from my house I decided that I would get a marine engineer to look at it for me and it was just the gear cable that had popped out of its retainer but it was still cheaper than driving there just to look at it.

Its all set for this weekend, can't wait!

[Barrowboy]

Glad you've got it all sorted in time for this weekend

[Chris Caton]

glad to be of some use eh Gareth