sportjet idle problems

Lipripper · 11-22-2004, 11:11 AM

I have a 2002 175 Sportjet. Lately the shifting has become rather stiff and the motor won't idle at less than 2000-3000 rpm. It has become increasingly difficult to smoothly accelerate and even more difficult to decrease the throttle. While motoring the shifter is hard to move but at rest with the motor off it is fine. Just sitting in the driveway flusing the motor it idles at 2200. Anyone with similar problems? Anyone with suggestions??

Dr Strangelove · 11-22-2004, 11:57 AM

Maybe the shifter cables have become corroded and/or kinked. Get them replaced and make sure the travel settings are right before you leave the shop.

Boat Doc' · 11-22-2004, 02:05 PM

The shift effort is probably related to the high idle speed, correct idle rpm should about 1100, which explains it working ok with engine off. Look at the throttle linkage and see if anything isn't against the stops and repair as necessary or adjust it down where it should be.

Lipripper · 11-22-2004, 05:46 PM

Thanks for the information. The high idle is causing the hard shifting. Everything else is alright so if I idle the motor down to 1100rpm things should be alright. Am I understanding you correctly??

It seems that the idle screw(if I'm looking at the correct one) is tied to a timing advance/retard device under the fly wheel.Is this the screw that needs adjustment?? I'm sure I could do the trial and error thing but I'd like some more info.

Thank you.

Boat Doc' · 11-23-2004, 01:50 PM

There is 3 screws on the throttle arm. DON"T mess with the top one. The bottom one should be resting against the stop on the block with the control in neutral. Also the roller for the carb linkage should be very close to the throttle cam. Your problem is possibly one or both of the above and the linkage needs to be adjusted or freed up. If the idle speed needs to be adjusted it is done with the middle screw which is the smaller of the three. If you are unsure get a book or have a tech look at it. If you mess with the top screw it will change timing and may cause SERIOUS DAMAGE to engine.

Mikeymoto · 11-23-2004, 09:35 PM

I think if you put the boat in the river it will idle at a lower rpm. Mine does the same thing. Your post states that while sitting in the driveway flushing the motor......
I think that the load the water puts on the impeller will cause the rpm's to slow down, without the waters resistance the engine has free reign to race away.
Only my opinion. Let us know if doing that corrects the idle speed prob.
Mike

Lipripper · 11-24-2004, 11:25 AM

It idles at 2000-3000 while in the water too. Talked to a service tech here in Salem and he suggested that the throttle cable may have wiggled loose from it's factory settings. I lengthened the cable by adjusting it at the connection to the throttle linkage and the idle is now 1200. I'm going to have it looked at Monday and see if more adjustments or repairs are in order. Keep ya all posted.