www.iFourWinns.com

I apologize in advance. As a new used Vista owner (and to be honest....new to this size boat....heck...this is my second boat), I'm sure I'll have a metric ton of questions now and in the near future as I begin to learn exactly what I've gotten myself into With that business out of the way...here is my next question.

The throttles on my boat seem horribly difficult to get in and out of gear. Once in gear, they are very smooth. But close quarter maneuvers are very difficult since I'm fighting the throttles instead of concentrating on my position. It's not all the time either....and sometimes it's the port and not the starboard and vice versa.

I saw another thread regarding a similar issue on this forum...but that was for a single engine 268 and I'm not sure where to start looking to be honest. So what I'm looking for are suggestions for a quick fix if possible.....or if replacement of something is required....what needs to be replaced....Also, how difficult is whatever labor your suggesting (IE..can I do it myself...or should I have a pro perform the work).

Thanks in advance!!

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Current Boat
- 2004 Four Winns 288 Vista "Pier Pressure"
* Dual 4.3 Volvo Penta GXie

Previous Boat(s)
- 2010 Sylvan 8520 Mirage F-N-C Pontoon

Mine are pretty tight but you get used to how much force to use to crack through the centre point but still not over rev.
However your shift cables may need replacing.
I've had my mechanic do it - it looked pretty fussy!

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

I recently ended my rather long battle with similar issues.

When you are sitting at the dock how do thing feel?
If they are a bit stiff you can spray lithium grease into the international parts of the shifter itself. This was the last thing I did to mine and it really put the icing on the cake in terms of smooth operation.

If this does not do the trick and things are still stiff you should try the operation of each shifter with one cable disconnected. Perhaps you will identify one cable that is causing a stiff feeling. If you decide to change a cable go with a Teleflex Extreme. This is an upgraded cable and well worth the minor up charge from the standard cable. Changing the cables from a mechanical standpoint is simple... Routing the cable on the other hand can be a bit of a treat.

Finally, are you randomly having a hard time shifting into neutral when docking, or when operating at idle speeds. Change your gear oil! Make sure it is OEM oil, and do not over fill. In this particular case oil is not just oil, and you must use the Volvo or Siera gear oil. Improper oil or poor oil conditions pervent the drive from shifting into neutral when there is a load on the prop.

My boat went from a nightmare to operating like a dream. Good luck!

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

is it easy to open up the shifter?

_________________
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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

On my Volvo shifter the cover just pulls off and there are 4 screws holding the shifter in place. After removing the 4 screws I can pull the shifter up and out far as the slack in the cables lets you. Once out you can see all the components.

I have never had a top mounted Merc shifter but I assume it's similar.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Check the attachment of both ends of each cable and both ends of the each cable housing, both throttle and gear shift. Our 268's shifter was a little stubborn earlier this summer. In July we had the gear shift cable housing become disconnected from the Shifter handle bracket at the helm. Before it became disconnected it was loose, sloppy, and harder to shift to neutral. I understand that the shifter system uses an ignition interrupter switch to momentarily interrupt power and make shifting to neutral easier (or possible). A loose cable or housing could affect rigging and operation.

_________________
Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

The cables can wear internally and the transom shift cable can get cracks in the sheath where it passes from the pivot housing to the outdrive and that can cause internal corrosion and stiff shifting.
When I adjust the cable on my OMC Cobra I disconnect the transom cable at both ends and measure the drag on the cable, it can't be more than 2.5 lbs (with a fish scale). I would disconnect the cable at both ends and check this. The Volvo uses one long cable from the remote control all the way to the outdrive. Stiffness is usually a worn cable, but it can be in the control too.


The Volvo cone clutch drives do not use a shift interruptor for shifting out of gear, that is needed on dog clutch shifted drives like the Merc Alpha and OMC Cobra to get the dog clutch to release. On mine it drops the idle down from 600 to about 400 rpm momentarily to release the gear you are in.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks, Lou. I stand corrected.

_________________
Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

I changed out one of my Port side shift cables recently which was Teleflex, I went with the Volvo OEM after a Volvo person showed me the difference between a Teleflex and Volvo by sliding the cable in/out of the sheath. The difference was very noticeable. After installing the cable which by the way is not very difficult on Volvo's, the difference between the port and starboard is a lot smoother shifting. I'm thinking of switching the starboard side next spring.

_________________
2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

To change out cables...boat needs to be out of the water....correct?

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Current Boat
- 2004 Four Winns 288 Vista "Pier Pressure"
* Dual 4.3 Volvo Penta GXie

Previous Boat(s)
- 2010 Sylvan 8520 Mirage F-N-C Pontoon

Definitely for the shift cable.
The part of this job that can be hard is getting the remote control out to disconnect the old cable. On some boats it's very easy on others its a project.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

The 288 has the same shift remote as the 298, shouldn't be a problem. I would suggest that you tape the old shift cable to a fish tape so that you can pull the new one through.

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

I am pretty darn sure Volvo uses Morse shifters which are made by the same company as Teleflex. The OEM would have been a Teleflex. Perhaps he showed you the difference between the standard and the extreme. The extreme is said to be notably smoother in its operation.

Cheers

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Definitely could be the case that the Volvo OEM is a relabeled Teleflex Extreme but the one I bought is labeled as a Volvo part.

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

You are correct. Your cable is listed as this "CABLE,CNTRL 20' TF EXTREME/VP
CC63320"

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP