Throttle stiff in reverse

[WhiskeyTango]

Hello all. I have a 3 year old M model with the 60 horse 3 cylinder Suzuki outboard installed. Very smooth engine, quiet, sips fuel.
Only trouble I have is that there is tremendous stiffness of the throttle both shifting into reverse and adjusting the throttle while in reverse.
I have loosened the friction screw; no change. Have looked thru the forum on this topic and at least one person changed to Volvo cables
to get the smooth action one would expect from this engine. Not much help from the dealer at this point. I can't tell if this is a problem
with the engine, the cables, or the throttle mechanism.

Shifting into forward, and adjusting the throttle, are stiffer than on other boats I have owned but not terrible. The reverse problem
is aggravating enough that my wife won't dock the boat until this is fixed.

Any suggestions or history of similar troubles?

Bill

[Whipsyjac]

Check your control cables for tight bends, usually occurs where cables exit pedestal or go through hull. Tight bends will make them stiff.

[DaveC426913]

Cables get junk in them. Rust or whatever.

My throttle was quite stiff - until it broke - while in gear - just as we came alongside the dock - with the Admiral at the helm. Panic.

I replaced it and now it's smooth as a ... really smooth thing.

I am no mechanic - it's an easy job. No point in nursing it along. Just replace it and be worry-free.

[Ormonddude]

Hello all. I have a 3 year old M model with the 60 horse 3 cylinder Suzuki outboard installed. Very smooth engine, quiet, sips fuel.
Only trouble I have is that there is tremendous stiffness of the throttle both shifting into reverse and adjusting the throttle while in reverse.
I have loosened the friction screw; no change. Have looked thru the forum on this topic and at least one person changed to Volvo cables
to get the smooth action one would expect from this engine. Not much help from the dealer at this point. I can't tell if this is a problem
with the engine, the cables, or the throttle mechanism.

Shifting into forward, and adjusting the throttle, are stiffer than on other boats I have owned but not terrible. The reverse problem
is aggravating enough that my wife won't dock the boat until this is fixed.

Any suggestions or history of similar troubles?

Bill

If its only 3 years old unless your in salt water it should be a kink however if no kink then replace it like Dave said but typically cables last longer than 3 years.

[padge]

My gear change cable lasted 6 years - 1 year after I bought the boat
luckily it went while still in the marina

changed both throttle and gear cable - went for the more expensive premium cables ( allow tighter bends)
silky smooth now