Loose throttle shifter

[WCHIII]

While pulling my son wake surfing yesterday, he threw the rope and it got hung up and started to wrap his leg. We've seen someone get wrapped before, so I immediately dropped it into neutral and then reverse to avoid dragging him. He was fine, but unfortunately I think I shot past neutral too quickly into reverse and now the throttle shifter lever seems very loose. There no longer is a clear "click" when you hit neutral. Instead, it is just a vague area when you can hear and feel the engine leave forward or reverse and hit neutral. Other than not having the "click" and a very precise spot where you can be sure you are in neutral, it is driving fine. But I hate not being sure that I have put it back in neutral and always thinking it might still be in gear.

Any thoughts?

[Ewok]

Check the spring on the ring of the throttle handle, sounds like the locking mechanism is stuck up and you don't need to pull up on the ring to move from neutral to forward or reverse correct? Either the locking pin is stuck up or it's broken off.

[WCHIII]

Check the spring on the ring of the throttle handle, sounds like the locking mechanism is stuck up and you don't need to pull up on the ring to move from neutral to forward or reverse correct? Either the locking pin is stuck up or it's broken off.

How do I check the spring? I'm not sure how to get in there to eyeball it.

The ring around the throttle is not stuck up. You can still pull the ring up and then put it in gear. But it is much looser. It doesn't snap back down when you go back to neutral with any force. It is so loose that you don't really have to pull the ring up before you put it in gear. (I still pull it up though.)

Any chance this is a DIY fix or do I just need to visit my dealer?

Also, do you see any problem continuing to drive like this? I'd prefer to just wait and get it fixed at the end of the season at this point.

Thanks.

[Ewok]

You can try to take it apart and see what's going on but I think you might have bent or broken the latch mechanism. It should be fine to drive the rest of the season but you have to be careful about keeping it in neutral when starting the engine. It won't start unless the throttle position sensor reads that the throttle handle is in neutral.

[WCHIII]

Thanks, Ewok. I appreciate the feedback.