How do I adjust neutral position without iNR, a touch screen or available setting mode

[Joatmon]

I have a 2017 twin Rotax Scarab that does not have an iNR adjustment setting, no touch screen and no push button setting to adjust for idle neutral positioning.

To adjust idle neutral positioning I have to adjust the IBR cable at the pump by disconnect the cable end, removing the cotter pin, pulling the nut out of the pocket and turning the nut to adjust the bucket position. There has to be a better way. I have researched the manuals and forums on the subject, but it appears everyone with a Scarab has an electronic method to adjust the neutral position except me.

Will CanDooPro do this?

Help please.

Thanks

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Older versions of Scarabs do NOT have electronically controlled neutral positioning. Mine included. No software will fix that. You'd need to retrofit the iBR system, replace the ECU, etc. This is not a small project and I have never seen it done.

With that being said, once it's adjusted, I've never had to touch it again at now 300h. Neutral is damn near perfect for me. Why do you keep having to adjust that? It is a pain to get it right initially.... and ideally it should have been done by the dealer. Cable stretch over time could require some adjustment though. But I haven't experienced that personally.

 

[Joatmon]

I have seen older model Scarabs with the electronic adjustment. Guess I’m one of the unlucky ones. I don’t really have to adjust often but would like to be able to adjust when my boat load changes. When I get neutral adjusted with just me in the boat I’m good but a heavy load moves boat forward in neutral. Not sure why load makes a difference other than more draft or pump is lower. Physics.

I don’t use my local dealer and bought the boat1000 miles away.

My adjustment method works. Just not on the fly. I’m a DYI guy.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Boat load has zero affect on this. The pump, the bucket, everything is moving together. Adjusting the bucket is moving it relative to the jet nozzle. That's it. Once it's adjusted to obtain neutral, there is no further adjustment required unless the cable stretches, something breaks, etc.

So I really don't understand how that's possible unless there's another factor at play. I have never heard of such a thing. Whatever you're experiencing, this isn't it.

Currents, wind, etc.

My tiny 165 doesn't see that either. I've had it fully loaded and empty, still the same neutral. Sea-Doo PWCs (which I own one), also doesn't require any adjustment to neutral based on load. Ever.

I think you're chasing the wrong thing here.

I'm not saying you're not experiencing some sort of issue... Maybe it's another issue.

 

[Joatmon]

So did you delete my reply? It was there now gone.

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Never deleted a single post on this entire forum. Definitely didn't see one. And if something is deleted, there are things shown to me that they were. Nothing here for that either.

Maybe your reply for posted in a different thread by mistake?

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

The last recorded post was on sep 30th.

 

[Joatmon]

Ok thanks. My bad. Apparently I wrote but did not post.

 

[Joatmon]

Luc, I found several issues with the reverse bucket. The bucket was not raising enough to clear the pump jet flow which was an issue along with not latching the safety latch. All the parts for the safety latch were in place but the spring was not in the pawl so not locking bucket into place. I disassembled and corrected, but the bucket was not retracted upward enough to latch. Using CanDoo Pro I was able to calibrate the bucket position and all appears to be good now. It took me a few tries to figure out how the auto calibrate works. I had to fully raise the bucket with the override then calibrate.

The reply I thought I sent but actually didn't was me explaining the neutral position and how it differs with the boat load. I know you explained the load does not matter, but when I have eight people in the boat compared to just two people I do experience a neutral creep difference. Eight passengers adds 1200 pounds or more so with a consistent motor idle and bucket position the thrust remains constate but a heavier boat requires an adjustment to remain stationary which my boat will not easily allow. It would be nice to be able to adjust at the helm.

Thanks for all you do.
Dave

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Sounds promising.

So the latching mechanism interestingly is no longer "required" according to BRP. In fact many boats since around your era no longer have that latch installed on purpose, but part of it is still there presumably because manufacturing the other part requires some expense that isn't worth it. So you end up with a partially completed latch! lol It's a very weird thing. Essentially, it was determined that there is no need to latch the bucket in the upright position.

BUT, you are absolutely correct that the bucket MUST clear the nozzle fully and to drop down to the correct neutral position. Havin the latch work certainly won't break anything. Mine still has the latch and works well. I just want you to know the missing part was probably on purpose weirdly enough. The entire exercise ensured that you adjusted things correctly.

As for the creep, the only thing I can envision is that when you have passengers, it could shift the boat on an angle. So the bow could be point up and to the left or something of the sort. Not a lot, but somewhat on an angle which could cause non-perfect neutral. But I'm assuming with all these adjustments you now realize taht the nozzle moves with the bucket equally. So the thrust is always positioned the same inside the bucket. But maybe the angling of the boat causes one side to be deeper and the other shallower causing a differential of some sort.

What I can tell you from seeing thousands of threads now, this type of issue has not been reported. Famously, jet systems can never attain perfect neutral, especially if there's a bit of wind/current complicating what feels like neutral to the driver. Many may just be living with it and don't realize it's their boat load being one sided or something of the sort.

Like I said, I do think you're experiencing something, but it isn't "neutral". Changing the neutral may indeed mitigate whatever you're experiencing though. Maybe tell people to have less beer next time. I'm sure that'll go well.