Broken Throttle on 2002 Ski Nautique - Suggestions?

[peteSki]

Bit of a mishap today with our ski club 2002 Ski Nautique. the throttle popped out and was hanging there by the cables. This happened while the boat was being put on the trailer and when it came loose the boat went into reverse with about 3/4 throttle. We hit stop pretty quick so there was no further damage to the boat and nobody was hurt. We did manage to rip the bow strap and damage the winch though.

Hoping someone may know what the likely cause is, is there a retaining clip or big nut on the inside that may have come off allowing the throttle to pop out? I've never had one fully apart myself so not sure. I'm going to take a look at my boat to see what it is supposed to look like and then compare. For now I have a video showing how it is now. If you hold the base of the throttle in position it feels almost normal, so I think both cables are still attached and working however it will not stay in place. Definitely cannot operate in this condition.

Appreciate any suggestions.

Pete

[s_kelley2000]

I can't get your video to play for me. At first I thought you were saying that the throw handle had come off but that doesn't seem like the case if you said it was hanging by the cables? If it is the throw handl shaft that came off, then set in place and tighten the small allen head set screw on the bottom of the handle. Here is a link the control so you can get an idea what it should look like from behind. http://www.nautiqueparts.com/control...6boats-on.aspx Perhaps something came unscrewed from the gunwale making the whole assembly loose?

[peteSki]

Thanks. I've been searching the forums and learned a bit more about the issue, the back side part that holds the cables is still intact, it's just the throw handle that has come out. I will be looking for that allen head screw tonight to see if that was the issue, hoping it is and it's an easy fix. I don't think the handle actually comes off but once it pops out in just spins freely and hangs down.

[s_kelley2000]

Ok now I am on the same page with you. I am almost positive that your problem is that set screw on the bottom of the handle that I mentioned. I had to take mine off a few years back in order to get the small panel behind it reupholstered and I think I put up a thread about this. Let me see if I can find it. But If remember right, the philips head screw at the base of the throttle that holds on the neutral button for "fast idle" is the only thing that is likely currently holding your throttle lever on. To put yours back together it might be best to remove the philips screw first so that you can take the whole handle off and see what you are dealing with. Be careful as you remove the screw as there is a spring behind the button and it likes to go flying. Once that screw and button are off, the handle should be free and you can see that there is a splined hub on the back of the handle that needs to line up to the splined output shaft on the control. This is also a good time to match up the set screw with an allen wrench and probably loosen it to make installation easier If you know the boat is in neutral then you know that the splined shaft is oriented correctly but if the transmission is still in 3/4 reverse you will need to get it back into neutral by adjusting the cables/turning the shaft. Once you know the control is in neutral then you just slide the handle back on straight up and down so that is also in neutral. Then reinstall the neutral/fast idle button and philips head. Keep pushing the base of the throw handle in with one hand so it doesn't come off the spline and then use your other hand to make sure the throttle moves in full range for reverse and forward. Assuming all of that goes well, tighten down the set screw at the bottom and you should be back in business. Sorry if this sounds confusing but once you look at it again it should make more sense. I will look for that old thread now as it may have some pics. Let me know if you need any more help.

[s_kelley2000]

Here is the thread I mentioned above.

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/fo...rottle-removal

[peteSki]

Thanks! Just had a look at it and indeed the set screw was loose. Managed to get everything realigned and confirmed shifting and throttle cables were moving the way they should. Once lined up really just had to keep a bit of pressure pushing in while tightening the screw. I didn't remove the center button phillips screw as that seemed fine but might take a look at that as a precaution next time out.

[s_kelley2000]

Nice, glad you got it sorted out! I don't think you will need to mess with the phillips screw, I just suggest that so you could see the splines behind the handle. I keep one of those little allen keys in my boat and check it periodically just to make sure it hasn't loosened up.

[functionoverfashion]

A quick Google search led me to this thread. This same thing happened yesterday to my sister while driving my '03 SAN. The handle came loose enough to disengage from the splines - while she was driving about 25 mph - and when she tried to back off the throttle to approach a dock, nothing happened. She turned away and collected herself, then hit the stop button. All was fine, and I was able to get the set screw tightened up and working normally when I saw the boat later on, but wow, it was a scary moment for her at the time.

I intend to loctite that little setscrew in place to hopefully lessen the chances of this ever happening again in a place where it wouldn't have ended so well. It doesn't appear to be a common issue - or this forum would be full of chatter about it - but it was still a scary failure of a very simple part.

[peteSki]

Did the same on ours and since putting on loctite all has been fine, but I do regularly check this now just to be safe. I also don't think this is very common, I've owned 2 Nautiques around the same age and never had an issue, but will keep checking it!