Boating Basics - Sticky Boat Shifters - Fixed!

[@pearceburge9478]

Thanks for the how-to Paul. My shifters and throttles look the exact same as yours and have the same mannerisms. I'll be takling this project in the fall when we get some cooler weather.

[@Sean-be8lg]

On my sport fisher I was having the same issue. Greased the controls, but did not help much. Ended up having some corrosion on the connectors to the transmission. Cleaned up and now operating perfectly. Just FYI........Good videos! Thanks from so. California

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

No, thank you for that recommendation! Things are a lot smoother now on the port side, but still not as fluid as the port one, so I'll check that out next time I'm in the engine room 👍

[@markburley4901]

Timely video. My port throttle has always been stiff when pushing forward. I'm going to take the plate off an revisit. Cable was replaced when I bought the boat and still the stiff movement. Slightly different looking throttles than yours. I believe they're the same as on your 400. Thanks for this one, very helpful.

[@kikiwak]

Timely video! My shifters need the same TLC. Thanks for the video Paul.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

I knew it would come in handy for somebody else! Happy to help you out 👍

[@Guerrero1187]

Shirt linkage on transmissions could be lubed also,that will help too👍🏼. Great vids. Thanks for sharing

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Thanks 👍

[@seamountain8922]

Good job. You’re lucky to have separate shifter/throttles ;) Our combined ones are quite tricky to adjust.. anyway, if the problem still occurs maybe also check the gearboxes in the engine room. There you could adjust the cables (lengthen/shorten) if needed. Of course this is primarily for the throttles, but also if you have problems engaging the gear. And as always really enjoy watching your videos

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Thanks for the tips! Been there, done that. After six boats over 20+ years, I've broken - I mean fixed - a few shifting issues ;-)

[@seamountain8922]

BoatingWithBoogaboo I thought so, just mentioned it anyways. Our list for the next winter already started again: trim gauge repair/adjustment of the sterndrives... but who doesn’t like spending time down in the “spaces” engineroom ;)

[@foreverfixin]

The reason why the one is stiff maybe time to replace a cable love the video man

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Yup, been there, done that. Might be on my Spring list for next season...

[@foreverfixin]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo me too

[@markdiephouse]

They make a special attachment piece. Tool. It hooks onto the cable end and has a place to put a spray lubricant straw. Such as wD 40. We used to use the tool on Yamaha wave runners .I was a beach rental dude at Bonita Beach Florida, in front of the world famous..."Docks Beach House ". It's still there to this day. That was Luke 30 years ago. The tool forces lubricant down between the cable and its sleeve. Works quite well. You can do it to both ends of the cable. Cable preservation. BTW. W.D. 40 stands 40 water displacement formula # 40. It's was engineered to grab and hold water. That was It's main goal. It was never meant as a lubricant. It's not a good lubricant. It's good for getting water out of pistons, rings, bearings, cables.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Cool. Thanks for the insights.

[@markdiephouse]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo no problem 😊

[@georgesmith7773]

maybe some light oil to lube the inner cable?

[@maxmann8607]

Very interesting. Also have a ‘98 330 dancer and the port throttle and shifter are much tighter than the strbds on ours as well.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Could also be the way the cables are routed to the engines. . .

[@GarnettM]

At Princess auto they sell a Silicone lubricant in a yellow and black can normally beside the Brake clean and WD40 , Believe it`s on sale right now , But it gets into the mechanisms very well , Works great on any friction area like window tracks , tumblers , cranks , Locks makes them quiet and really slippery , Plus they sell spray lithium grease.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Sounds good 👍 Only problem with that is that I'd have run into the Big City to get to a Princess Auto. Being out here in the sticks, means we don't have all the big stores. But I'm okay with that. Don't like the city life 🙂

[@DMwick]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo They have a Pricess Auto in East Gwillumbury (Newmarket). Not exactly the big city and pretty close to your home base

[@stefanknorsch]

Paul, did you ever check the engine, respectively gear box end of the cables? And there should also be a tension adjusting screw on the levers.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Not yet, but I'll look into that.

[@mikezaverin]

Yep and the stiff port side shifter screw was in further when compared to star

[@frankrice5364]

Getting it done cool vedio thanks for sharing

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Glad you liked it! Happy to share.

[@kemicalx17]

Question, do you know the make and model of these controls? Morse? I’m looking to change the ones I have

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

They would have been Morse on that boat, similar to the setup on our current '98 Sea Ray 370 Dancer. This past summer, we had one of the shift cables snap - at the worst possible moment of course - and I had to change it while on our summer getaway. The replacement cables were from Dometic, the marine powerhouse that has since taken over Teleflex. Watch for an upcoming 'How I Did It' video on that installations, as well as the throttle cables I also replaced this past season.

[@kemicalx17]

@@BoatingWithBoogabooMurphys Law at its finest. Thanks for the response and I’ll be watching!

[@mrzif0013]

i was wondering what year the boat is and up popped the year and model on this video! cheers!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

ALL the specs for the boat is in ALL the video descriptions since September. But don't worry, because nobody reads the descriptions 😵

[@mrzif0013]

keep up the good work! i enjoy the vids! i am looking into trading up!

[@trevorgains868]

Hey what make and model is that shifter? I need a new one exact model

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

You'll have to ask the current owner, as we sold that boat a couple of years ago.

[@henryrodgers3409]

Ok . I'm not a boating guy like . I do have a 18ft fiberglass boat but it only has 1 shifter . one engine lol . Why do you have 2 shifters on 1 side and 2 on the other side . I know that you have 2 engines but why 4 shifters . It may be a stupid question but I had to ask . Thanks

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Hi Henry, No stupid questions. Our #boat is equipped with twin engines, so the shifters I was working on in this video were for just that - shifting gears (forward/neutral/reverse). The other two on the starboard side of the helm are fro the engine throttles. The set up you have on your boat would be shift and throttle all together on one lever. Hope that helps. . .

[@henryrodgers3409]

Thank you very much for getting back to me . Always wondered why . 2 shifters and 2 throttles . Sure clears up a lot .Have a safe and great trip .

[@Brad1711]

Those wire crimps look like they need heat applied to them

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Ya

[@edwardwerthner7717]

Cables okay???

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

They were on that boat (sold her a couple years ago), but ended up snapping a shift cable on our current Sundancer while out on our five week cruise last summer! Have a look at most recent videos to learn more.

[@Guerrero1187]

Use wD 40 with straw and stick straw in cable and spray heavy

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Cool.

[@eddu4361]

Quite some 50Hz hum in your soundtrack

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Not quite sure about the precise frequency, but I'll agree that the audio could always be better. That said, my limited budget this year only allowed for a new GoPro Hero 7 Black, additional batteries, high speed micro SD cards and a big portable HDD to save it all while we're on the road. Fingers crossed that my meagre KZbin revenue will afford me some better audio equipment to keep up with all the video upgrades 😉

[@stevekaluf2708]

Love your videos, but your lens cap banging around detracts from them.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

No lens cap on the GoPro...

[@albrewster24]

...if I remember correctly (...340 Sundancer, 2000), the 2 screws in the middle of the top of the shifts are adjustable tension screws - might give that a try. 34 Dancer was the best boat I ever owned!!

[@callmepokey1]

your exactly right Al...you can see the tensioner screws in the video on top side by side

[@callmepokey1]

nope wrong sorry...its those two out by the handles in that semi circle hole ...one on each end....screws must be in bottom of holes....here is the link for picture...www.manualslib.com/manual/764924/Sea-Ray-320-Sundancer.html?page=45

[@albrewster24]

@@callmepokey1 ...good catch!! ...I sit corrected.

[@tprdfh51]

After 20+ years it may be time to replace the cables...just sayin'!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

I hear ya! Been there,done that 😉