07 Challenger 180se wont go all the way into forward.

[Steeevo]

Hi everyone I'm new so forgive me as I get to know you all. After a glorious day on the lake i was bringing the Do in to trailer it and the shiftier got very stiff, so much that while going into forward it doesn't quite go all the way up. To throttle up at all, I have to push the shift lever forward and hold it so it releases the interlock. After a minor episode with the trailer (due to an unresponsive throttle) I finally got it off of the water. Has anyone run into this in the past?

 

[Scott E]

Does the gate open all the way the trailer? Any resistance?

 

[Steeevo]

No, its binding up on the trailer also. I've removed the handle and inspected the cable, all is good. Lubed the cable and reinstalled the handle. Back by the gate I also lubricated the shaft. Manually I can move the gate to all 3 positions with no issue, but the shift lever is super stiff to move.

 

[Speedling]

I don't know the doo mechanism but you will probably need to pull the throttles out and take it apart.

 

[Julian]

That is strange....if it slowly got stiff, then I'd say your cable is rusty and old and needs replacing, but to go from fine to stiff in moments suggests one of 2 things:

1. while putting on the trailer you stirred up rocks etc and your gates have crap in them (but you say you disconnected them and they move fine)
2. something in the binnacle broke (perhaps because of #1 and you pushed to hard and broke something)-you are going to have to take it apart and see if you can figure that out....

 

[Steeevo]

I've removed the throttle assy and it moves smooth, no resistance. The cable seems to be moving ok from the throttle to the reverse gate. It really weird because if I move the reverse gate up and down with the linkage connected it moves the shift lever into the proper spot and I can move the throttle lever as if there is no issues. But from the lever the gate doesn't move far enough. Could there be some excess play in the cable?

 

[Julian]

I've removed the throttle assy and it moves smooth, no resistance. The cable seems to be moving ok from the throttle to the reverse gate. It really weird because if I move the reverse gate up and down with the linkage connected it moves the shift lever into the proper spot and I can move the throttle lever as if there is no issues. But from the lever the gate doesn't move far enough. Could there be some excess play in the cable?

It is possible one of your linkages is bent and causing the angles to not be correct thus requiring more force than normal to effect the move?

 

[Steeevo]

Well I can't find anything bent but I did. Come across something interesting. There is supposedto be a small hook and spring on the reverse lingake. Does anyone know what they do? Because mine are gone. The only reason I even know that they exist is by looking at a parts diagram. Could this be the issue? I really don't recall ever seeing them.

 

[Ron@Scarab]

replace the cable, it sounds like you man-handled the lever so bad that you bent the cable under the shift lever, not allowing it to move freely to extend or retract the cable. The cable was bad in the first place if the reverse gate works freely.

 

[Steeevo]

Thanks, that's what I have done. Parts are on order.

 

[Ron@Scarab]

Glad to add my .02

 

[Steeevo]

New cable is installed, back from a great day on the lake. Thanks everyone.