hello and welcome to my nightmare!

[Jfrymania]

Hello all,
I have been reading this forum over the last few Weeks after buying my Speedster SK (1999). Let me first say its awesome how knowledgeable and helpful everyone is. I hater that my first post is bad but that's life. So yesterday I took the family for the first ever ride and as I am launching the shifter lever would not go into forward. A little more pressure added and SNAP it comes right off in my hand. Now I am floating out into the lake towards the dock and no way to move it. I kill the engines and float right over too the dock, so lucky. Anyways, I pulled out the bad shifter and Errol order the new one in the morning but here is my question: when I pulled the shifter out I could move the cable to reverse but not back up to forward. Is there something else wrong (cable maybe). Again thanks for everything!

 

[BMANN06]

You have to make sure your throttle is at 0, in order for you to move to "F" on lever. After that, dump to "WOT" and hang on. Although it sounds to me like your lever/reverse cable may have had some issues.

 

[Jfrymania]

I recently read that it had to be completely down on the throttle. Tobe honest I may not have been all the way down. The part I'm worried about is if the cable is messed up. when I pulled the assembly out nothing looked wrong but that doesn't mean I know what I'm looking at:willy_nilly: I guess I will find out after I put the new shifter on. Thanks for the quick response......

 

[Jfrymania]

Does anyone know if I can test the cable (shifter lever) by pulling on the top of it after its disconnected from the lever? I cannot see anything wrong with the cables but want to make sure before putting the new shifter lever on there. Thanks!

 

[BMANN06]

Does anyone know if I can test the cable (shifter lever) by pulling on the top of it after its disconnected from the lever? I cannot see anything wrong with the cables but want to make sure before putting the new shifter lever on there. Thanks!

Re mount the lever to the hull, then go lift your reverse buckets up (at the back) you can then pull them down, you'll see a little locking clip on the left bucket when you've got them up, just move it with your finger and pull them down (buckets). This should let you know if you reverse cable and shifter are in good shape as you can observer what's happening at the lever. This make sense?

 

[Jfrymania]

Thanks for the quick response, it does make sense kinda. I broke my lever off the other day so I had to remove the old bottom part. So if I reconnect it I will not be able to see it from the back of the boat. my buckets are up but it looks like there is slack in the cable going into the transom. Did I even make sense? I could take some pics if that would help.?.?.

 

[RFoster130]

With the bucket up, mine have slack in them too. As you pull the lever the cable tightens and pulls the bucket down. To me it sounds like you may have just not been at idle. That is a must...you will get use to it. Just never force the levers, they are just plastic, if it feels like it is going to break...there is an issue you need to address.

 

[Jfrymania]

Agree on the issues I need to address...lol I did read the throttle must be closed (down) and that was the learning experience. So when I go to put the new lever in should the buckets be in the up position or down? What is up, forward? Again thanks for all the help, I may seem lost but only because I don't want to break it worse than it is. Its all so new.

 

[BMANN06]

It would likely be easier to disconnect reverse cable at buckets (10mm nut and bolt if I remember correctly) then install new lever. Then but lever in "N" and reconnect reverse cable to buckets. Then make sure throttle is at 0. And move lever to R then N then F checking for somewhat smooth movement as buckets go up and down. When buckets are up you'll be in "F" when in neutral there some where in the middle and "R" they will be all the way down.