Can you "Disengage the Shift Function" in your boat?

[JusFlyinBy]

While reading the manual, I found a section that states we can disengage the shift function by pushing in the base button on the throttle lever, which I assume allows you to rev the engine speed without forward motion.

See attached snapshot out of manual:



The button labeled as "2" does not depress in my 215HO, nor did it depress or work in my previous 215. Seeing as the only manual available is for the 195, is this a 195 feature only?

Would just like to verify with some of you before I send the boat in on Monday for service and warranty work.

Thanks!

 

[bronze_10]

The dealer showed me that on my 2008 sx230.. not sure if that helps..

 

[Julian]

Most, but not all, Yamahas have that button and many don't realize it is there. While at Shelbyville I was chatting with a member (forget who) and he swore he didn't have it, and sure enough, no button on his model. All the other boats there did have it. I was to say it was a 2009 SX230 or perhaps the first year of the 24'ers.

So it may well be that some Scarabs have it while others do not.

 

[Master]

Just checked, I have it on my 195 impulse.

 

[JusFlyinBy]

How odd. Anyone with a 215 model chime in?

 

[Grayjrk]

mine doesn't work on my 195 HOI It is also difficult to shift at times. Guess it is time to have it checked.

 

[Ronnie]

I have that feature on my 2010 242ls.

 

[ptdavidson]

Scarab Jet boats are direct drive, there is now way to disengage the drive line from the impeller. My guess is that this is a standard page out of the manufacturers stern-drive manuals and should not be included. The only functioning button is that at the top of the shifter/throttle that you depress with your thumb to "shift" from neutral to froward/reverse. "Neutral" will always have the impeller engaged and spinning.

 

[Grayjrk]

The button is not to disengage the drive line but to allow you with the bucket in the neutral position to rev the rpms higher for starting.
Had the feature on my Mirage but the button doesn't work on my scarab.

 

[rkluck]

So this feature is available to be able to rev the engines more without really dropping the buckets down. Interesting. I didn't know I had it but I don't think I ever needed it either.

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

So I'm really wondering what someone would use this function for. I've owned jet boats for the past 10 years. Not once have I been able to say "I wish I could throttle up without being in drive". Am I missing something?

 

[Grayjrk]

I used it when I was having problems starting.

 

[MikeyL]

So I'm really wondering what someone would use this function for. I've owned jet boats for the past 10 years. Not once have I been able to say "I wish I could throttle up without being in drive". Am I missing something?

This is a somewhat standard "throttle feature" for many years, originally engineered for 2-stroke outboards.
While of limited usefulness for 4-stroke outboards and our types of boats, please remember our boats use many components and engineering present and completed for other types of boats.

Better to have it present and never need it than the other way around. I feel sure that is why it is still present.
Play nicely now in the sandbox.
Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA

 

[JusFlyinBy]

Scarab Jet boats are direct drive, there is now way to disengage the drive line from the impeller. My guess is that this is a standard page out of the manufacturers stern-drive manuals and should not be included. The only functioning button is that at the top of the shifter/throttle that you depress with your thumb to "shift" from neutral to froward/reverse. "Neutral" will always have the impeller engaged and spinning.

The snapshot I included was out of the Scarab manual, not the Rotax manual. Also a couple folks with a 195 already chimed in saying they have it as well, so maybe it's only featured on the single engine boats, who knows.



I could see it possibly being useful in a troubleshooting situation, as Grayjrk mentioned above. Either way, I'm just trying to understand all the features my boat actually has vs. what the manual tells me, like the water surface temp display that also doesn't exist,

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

Sorry if I sounded a little abrasive. I was simply curios. Those Rotax motors are very reliable. Other than a couple of sensors and a main relay I had 7 trouble free years out of my 08' SeaDoo 215 hp Rotax.

 

[Julian]

I have a great use for it on my boat....it allows me to throttle up without moving the buckets....so I can use my jet pump squirt gun, and would be able to use the same attachment to fill ballast bags. Without this button, I'd have to put it in "drive" which would blow the pickup out of the nozzle.

With my 2 cycle it was useful to rev a rough running engine. I've only had to do that once with my 4 cycle engines...and that was because my spark plugs needed changing....