Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have an 86 evinrude spl 88 and need to see if there is a pdf file somewhere I can read on using it. I had trouble at the lake today getting it in gear. I am sure it is just I don't know what I'm doing.

it has the Bombardier Evinrude/Johnson top mount OMC - 176372

Did you squeeze the handle under the throttle control?

Sorry you had problems, tell what was happening when you tried to put it in gear, was it getting locked out or grinding trying to go in gear

mine dosnt have the a handle under the throttle.. I do have a button on the side of the mount.. I pushed it and slid the throttle back for reverse and and it would rev up but didnt go in gear after a little playing with it it went in.. Is there a delay after moving it foward or reverse that you have to wait to it to engage in gear before throttling up?

Here is the throttle I have on the boat.

On my Merc, pushing that button allows you to throttle up while keeping it in neutral. It bypasses the shift cable, keeping it out of gear

So thats what that button is.. lol.. I pushed to to get it to release the throttle out of netral and tried to back the boat off the trailor and .......... Nothing but rpm`s.. I was like wtf? so if that is the netral switch then is there a release button on the throttle and if not why is it so damn hard to move it unless you push that button then WHALHA... it moves? I must just be aqua-retarded..

Might not be the same on your throttle, that might be the release switch to keep it from accidentally going into gear if leaned on for you. That's just the way it is on my merc controller.

I also had the same issue after my rebuild with going into reverse from neutral. I just had to adjust the shift cable a bit, because where I had it set wasn't far enough to put the boat into reverse.

if it were the cable would it go in after a little "fiddeling" with it? The problem is I cant find anything online about the control so I am just guessing at it.

yeah, after adjusting the stop on the throttle cable, it will go in with no issue now.

Well I got it in gear after a little working with the throttle.. Put it in forward then reverse and letting it settle there a few ( about 10 ) seconds it will drop into reverse.

You were right. It allows you stay in neutral. Thanks man.

Awesome! Glad I could help