@help

[JCKC]

My son jus t called and is having a problem on lake Alatoona in Ga, that I can't problem solve from Dismey World. He stopped to let someone take a nature break, backed out from the bank and when he began to shift from reverse the throttle levers wouldn't move out of reverse. He took clean out plugs out and found plastic bag in left clean out plug. Said that lever now working. No bag in other clean out, and can't find anything around that bucket. Any help/ ideas appreciated.
Jeff

 

[MrMoose]

Check to see if there is something stuck in the buckets. Since he was reversing when the problem occurred, some debris might have gotten gathered near the buckets and blocked their movement.

 

[JCKC]

Thanks. He has found a plastic bag wrapped around the left one and it is loose now and will shift freely. He says he can't find anything around the right bucket or in the clean out port.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Have somebody manually move the bucket while another moves the shift lever. Sometimes you'll get a small Rick or shell between the bucket and bracket which binds it up.

 

[JCKC]

Have somebody manually move the bucket while another moves the shift lever. Sometimes you'll get a small Rick or shell between the bucket and bracket which binds it up.

Have somebody manually move the bucket while another moves the shift lever. Sometimes you'll get a small Rick or shell between the bucket and bracket which binds it up.

We will try that.

 

[JCKC]

He is limping back on one engine right now. I told him the next time he stops to try that. I think he can make it back to our marina by dark or soon after. I'd like to get him there if I can so I know the boat is secure. He is going to stop and try that.

 

[4x15mph]

Don't force it! Ask me how I know.

 

[JCKC]

Well , he has stopped and tried to move the bucket while someone else is moving the shift lever.i suspect he is being too gentle with it but I can't give him too much advice from this far away. He is going to limp back with one wngine( thank goodness for two engines). And park it at our marina tonight. thanks for your input.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

Make sure he clamps the water intake on the down engine! Good luck

 

[MrMoose]

Thanks. He has found a plastic bag wrapped around the left one and it is loose now and will shift freely. He says he can't find anything around the right bucket or in the clean out port.

I'm not referring to the cleanout ports. I'm referring to the buckets... just to be clear. Your first post referred to clean-out ports. You need to physically get into the water to feel for debris in/around the buckets, especially since things aren't working after the clean-out ports were checked/cleared.

 

[Julian]

He has a tiny rock stuck in the bucket. It takes some pretty agressive wiggling to get it loose. Also helps to know how to unlock the bucket from the cable (it is a spring release). This thread has some photos of how the spring release looks/works:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/how-to-replace-reverse-gate-cable.28/

Also note to everyone that the ATHelp function only works when you put the text in the content of the thread NOT in the title.

 

[JCKC]

I'm not referring to the cleanout ports. I'm referring to the buckets... just to be clear. Your first post referred to clean-out ports. You need to physically get into the water to feel for debris in/around the buckets, especially since things aren't working after the clean-out ports were checked/cleared.

Mr moose. Sorry if I wasn't clear. He says he has checked both the clean out ports and the buckets. I will be back in town Friday and go see the boat to figure out what it was.

 

[JCKC]

He has a tiny rock stuck in the bucket. It takes some pretty agressive wiggling to get it loose. Also helps to know how to unlock the bucket from the cable (it is a spring release). This thread has some photos of how the spring release looks/works:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/how-to-replace-reverse-gate-cable.28/

Also note to everyone that the ATHelp function only works when you put the text in the content of the thread NOT in the title.

Julian. I think you are probably right but I won't know until I can look at it on Friday. I will let you all know since you took the time to help us. Sorry if I didn't post the at help correctly. I was using it from a cell, for the first time.

 

[Julian]

No need to apologize for not posting athelp correctly! Just want to be sure others know you can't put it in the title or your won't get the immediate attention you need.

 

[itsdgm]

I know I'm a bit late to the party here and hopefully everything worked out ok by now. I agree with the above advice about the problem more than likely being sand or a tiny pebble being jammed in there. I've done that one a time or two myself.

For future reference, One thing that will prevent a ton of damage in this situation (and possibly you're already aware, but for others reading this post) IMHO, it's best to leave the affected engine running at an idle in this situation while getting back to the dock and maybe stopping occasionally to raise the rpm's. If it's running, there's no chance of it ingesting water into the engine.

 

[ToddW850]

Hope he got back okay. I'm sure it was a small shell or rock, but curious to know the final outcome Friday when you figure it out.

 

[MattFX4]

Hopefully he made it back. Allatoona is 10 minutes from my house!

 

[Matt Phillips]

I'm late to this party as well. I agree with others...it sounds like some debris for wedgied into and stopped a reverse bucket from coming back up. I also agree that leaving the affected engine running at idle speed would be preferable as the he could make more than no wake speed back to the dock (by running the shiftable engine at a higher RPM).

It also sounds like this situation started with having to run someone to shore for a nature break. That happens. To help me from those issues, I carry a roll of TP and will allow anyone to use the bucket if needed (the rule is you soil the bucket, you clean it). We also carry a 32oz empty gatorade bottle that is used and rinsed as needed. Just a couple of suggestions I do to avoid getting into the situation above.

 

[JCKC]

Well, he made it back to marina just after dark. He was able to keep at no wake speed. I will see the boat Friday and hopefully figure out what he opened. Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions.

 

[JCKC]

Well, it was a rock. I have attached a picture of it in my hand. At first I didn't even notice it, but after laying under the boat and shining a light on it from my phone I could see it jammed between the bucket and housing. It still took a little work, but within a few minutes of recognizing what it was I had it out. I'm not sure there was any way he could have seen it while it was in the water. Thanks to the comments from all of you I had an idea where to start and what to look for. Thanks again for your help. Other than having a dirty boat we are ready to take it out this weekend. PS: We did have a long talk today about not stirring up rocks in reverse, we will see if he was listening!