Controller

[macroft1]

Can any of you knowledgeable people help? 

I have a Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke outboard with a remote controller which I bought last year and have yet to use it. 

The handle for forward and reverse moves through 90 degrees forward but only 45 degrees in reverse. 

Is this correct or should it go through 90 degrees in both directions? 

Regards. 
Mark.

[JawsOrca]

Hi Mark,

 

That sounds normal, You don't need full revs in reverse as the prop is only efficient up to a point, after that it's pointless plus you will generally only need to go very slow in reverse. 

 

Don't worry also if you notice when you are running it and it doesn't accelerate above 45degress in forward as the linkage on the engine doesn't have that much travel.

 

Hope that helps.

[Guest]

Single lever remote controls for boat engines can vary widely in the amount of travel, because some are engine manufacturer specific, and some are "universal".

 

Because the single lever operates both the gear change cable and the throttle cable, there's quite a complex mechanism inside, where only the gear change cable moves near the upright position, then the throttle cable after a number of degrees have passed, forwards or reverse. 

 

This is designed to assist the forward/neutral/reverse gear change to be with the engine ticking over, though one should still pause momentarily in the middle as well.

 

As Alan said, some engines need far less throttle in reverse than forward, though it does depend on the engine power.

 

Something like a 15hp outboard on a 20ft cruiser could need full throttle in reverse for emergency stops, but with high power engines it could be quite hazardous.

 

45 degrees forwards and 45 degrees backwards movement is usually the amount taken up by just the gearchange alone.

[Oddfellow]

Many engine control boxes will move the same distance in both directions. Some may have an adjuster on them or have been modified.

 

Some engines have a "floating" propellor too that slides slightlly back and forth on the shaft to aid reverse propulsion (it allows the direction of exhaust gas through the prop to be more dispelled and so not act as a brake in reverse).

 

It may be normal, it may be adjustment.

[macroft1]

Thanks for the comments.

 

I've managed to find a manual for it and it does look to be correct as it is.

 

I'm hoping it's enough to stop forward motion when necessary.

 

Regards.

Mark.