Question about the Throttle

[wakeatx]

Hey Guys,

So we got our Tige on Labor Day last fall and we absolutely love it. It's our baby. Well, technically our 3 month old is our baby, but our Tige is too...

Anyway, we've had it out maybe 15 times since we got it and the thing seems to run like a champ except for one quirk.

Coming out of neutral into gear it takes it a while before the prop is engaged. So you end up giving it more throttle than you'd like when maneuvering around the docks, etc.

The dude we bought the boat from said there's a viscous coupling to engage the vdrive and it's normal to be like that, so I just figured it's one of those things about an inboard vdrive I had to get used to.

So anyway, to make a long story a little longer me and a couple buddies went out yesterday afternoon for a quick pm wakeboarding set and they thought it was strange how the throttle engaged. Apparently their 2009 Avy doesn't do that.

So is the way the throttle engages normal on an old Tige like mine or is there something I could fix to make it work better?

Thanks for the advice guys

[chpthril]

So you are saying that the engine begins to rev up before the trans engages? Sounds like the shift cable needs to be adjusted, but it wouldn't hurt to check the trans fluid level. Just like a car, low fluid could cause a delayed engagement.

[wakeatx]

Yeah, I think I'd say you have to start to rev the engine to get it to engage. Prop won't engage at real low RPM...

Good thought on the tranny fluid. I would have thought my mech would have checked that when they did the annual service, but maybe no.

Is the shift cable a DIY type thing?

Thanks CHP

[wakeatx]

Oh and I get that Red Light on the dash comes on when we're in neutral or at low speeds. I looked in the book and that's some kind of vdrive light. I think it's supposed to come on when I'm moving slow. Is that right?

[Guapo]

I'm not familiar with your specific boat, but it shouldn't be doing any of that. I would do what Chpthril recommended. Somethings not right...

[wakeatx]

Cool. Thanks Guys I'm going to get it in and looked at. I had to take someone out with me to find out it wasn't normal

[Domsz06]

the red light is normal at idle/very low. If it's on when your driving shut your boat down.

Like chp said check your fluid. The cable could be easy to look at and work on, depends how "mechanically" inclined you are (not to be meant as insult).

If you look at the throttle and the cable and you see that you have to push the throttle a long way before it moves on the tranny it needs adjustment.

Start with the easy stuff first (fluid) then go to the hard stuff

Good luck and keep us posted.

[rostap]

I have a 2000 21v, the red light on at idle is normal from what i understand. If i had to guess..i would say on mine theres maybe an inch at the most of movement on the throttle before engaging...for what its worth.

[wakeatx]

Ok, that helps. I think mine must need to be adjusted. I'd say I'm closer to 4 inches before it engages.

[talltigeguy]

Ok, that helps. I think mine must need to be adjusted. I'd say I'm closer to 4 inches before it engages.

Not normal. My buddy had the same problem and the tranny was bad. He did not realize it was a problem until I went out with them and asked WTH? He also thought it was normal operation with an inboard boat, since the previous owner had the same problem since new. Tige did not cover it under warranty because there was no documentation that the problem was there at the time of purchase and it was out of warranty. 2006 24Ve.
They initially thought it might be one of the things discussed above, but unfortunately it did not pan out that way. I hope yours is a simple adjustment.

[wakeatx]

Man, I hope so too. That will SUCK if it's the tranny!

[wakeatx]

Update: Well hate to say it, but Tall was right. The tranny is fried. My mech pulled the plug and the fluid in there looked like tar. Metal flecks in it.

Worst part is, took me 2wks to get em to look at it and estimated another 2wks to get it fixed and back.