94 Nautique will not Accelerate

[gman0821]

Hi everyone. I am new to posting but have benefitted from the topics here several times. My Nautique will not accelerate. I apologize in advance if I use some incorrect terminology but hopefully I can accurately portray the issue. If I start the engine and have the driveshaft/gears disengaged, pushing the throttle forward or backward does nothing and the idle speed remains very low. If I engage the driveshaft/gears, i am able to drive the boat forward or reverse at the slowest possible speed. If i push the throttle forward, nothing happens and the speed remains slow. I am thinking this sounds like a throttle cable but I wanted to ask the experts. Thoughts ?

[charlesml3]

It's clearly a cable or linkage issue. I doubt we're going to be able to help you without a video of the linkage as it moves (or doesn't move when it should).

-Charles

[gman0821]

Thanks Charles. That makes sense. I will take a video later today if I can escape from work for a bit. Any advice on the best angle or what I should focus on when taking the video ?

[Tom_H]

Yup throttle cable or linkage. There's two cables that come off your throttle control. One is the shift cable that engages the transmission into forward or reverse. This one is clearly ok since you can get it into gear. The other one is the throttle cable which is your problem. Check connections on both ends. You'll probably find your connection at the engine is slipping. Look at where the throttle cable is secured at the engine and have someone move the throttle (boat doesn't need to be on for this). If the whole throttle cable is slipping through the clamp, just try tightening it down with throttle in neutral, and move the throttle again. If it's now actuating the throttle body, then you're good. If you don't see any movement there, then you'll want to unscrew your throttle arm to check the rear connections there. Good luck.

[gman0821]

Thanks for the advice Charles and Tim. When I started moving the throttle, I quickly could tell the throttle cable had been disconnected from the engine block. I reconnected it and everything is fine. It seems to be a deliberate attempt by the business that winterized the boat to get it back in the shop for a service call. I can't see how this possibly could have been disconnected by itself.