What Is This Mystery Lever? 2025
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
I was working on painting the control box yesterday when I accidentally stumbled across this lever. I never noticed it before. It lifts almost straight up and then goes back flush when you push it back down. When I crank the boat up and leave it in idle neutral, I lift the lever up and the RPM's go up. But once the lever is engaged the regular throttle handle does not move. What is this? On a 1989 Cajun with a Johnson 70 two stroke.
flyfisher reply :
i have no clue about boats but it sounds like a choke to me....
Big C reply :
A mystery.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
On 10/4/2015 at 11:23 PM, flyfisher said:i have no clue about boats but it sounds like a choke to me....
I don't think it's a choke unless it's an auxiliary one. I have an electric choke already (push the key in before you crank it and you hear a "click" at the motor).
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
On 10/4/2015 at 11:26 PM, Big C said:A mystery.
lol
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
I did some more research and it looks to be a "fast idle lever". People say when it is engaged it doesn't allow the throttle to move out of the neutral position to either forward or reverse which is the case with mine.
I'm still not sure if the functionality of it??? Some people on the web said that they use it as a "choke" method and others say it is used to help the cold motor warm up faster.
I'm not sure on the choke issue because the electric choke o have now will "close" the three carburetor ports and if you use the fast idle lever it will "open" them. This is two different things. Unless like when starting an older car you would "pump" the gas pedal to help start the older car.
Any ideas or input???
badhatharry reply :
Cold start switch......basically a choke. I had one on my '79 85HP Merc. Pain in the butt..it always wanted to lift when the throttle was moved forward.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
Thanks!!!!!!
Glenn reply :
It's a choke lever. It was standard on all boats during that time.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
On 10/5/2015 at 12:31 AM, Glenn said:It's a choke lever. It was standard on all boats during that time.
So my electronic choke doesn't work anymore. I now have to remove engine cover, switch it by hand up, crank it, then switch it off, then replace the cover, then start the motor.
Rather than chase wire issues, can I just use this new found lever and save me the troubles????
Way2slow reply :
It should have nothing to do with the choke. You had it right to start with, it's the idle up for cold start. I don't know of one that activates the choke when raised. Since you can't advance the throttle, to do that you would have to put it in gear, and then you couldn't crank it because the neutral start switch would keep it from cranking, you lift that lever to advance the throttle. All the way up is sometimes too much rpm, but after a couple of times, you will learn the best position. As the motor warms a little and starts gaining rpm, start pushing the lever down until it's all the way down and the motor idles ok.
As for your choke problem, if the solenoid is good, and you don't won't to trouble shoot the wiring, just put you a push button on the console and run a wire directly to the solenoid. Whole lot easier than what you are doing now.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
I had a loose wire for the electronic choke. ;-)
That lever is basically a mechanism that raises the RPMs.
Could possibly be beneficial in cold conditions.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
On 10/5/2015 at 12:47 AM, Way2slow said:It should have nothing to do with the choke. You had it right to start with, it's the idle up for cold start. I don't know of one that activates the choke when raised. Since you can't advance the throttle, to do that you would have to put it in gear, and then you couldn't crank it because the neutral start switch would keep it from cranking, you lift that lever to advance the throttle. All the way up is sometimes too much rpm, but after a couple of times, you will learn the best position. As the motor warms a little and starts gaining rpm, start pushing the lever down until it's all the way down and the motor idles ok.
As for your choke problem, if the solenoid is good, and you don't won't to trouble shoot the wiring, just put you a push button on the console and run a wire directly to the solenoid. Whole lot easier than what you are doing now.
Do newer boats have a fast idle lever?
BKeith reply :
I think most carbureted motors have them. its controlled by the ECM in most fuel injected motors. Some wont even let you advance the throttle, they wont start if you do.
not all have a separate lever, some have a release for the control handle so you can advance it without putting it in gear.
K_Mac reply :
I have a similar lever on my Honda 4 Stroke. As already mentioned, it is a fast idle lever.
slonezp reply :
On 10/5/2015 at 2:05 AM, 5 Dollar Fishing Game said:Do newer boats have a fast idle lever?
The lever is on OMC, Mercury has a button on the throttle that allows you to push the throttle forward without putting it in gear. It's standard on the controls for carbureted motors.
Snakehead Whisperer reply :
Already been said, but it's a throttle lever. It allows you to control the throttle while in neutral. It is especially useful in the event that you flood your outboard. Just turn key (don't push the key in, as that primes the carbs with more fuel) and lift the throttle lever all the way up until the fuel clears.
Your outboard must run like a top if you haven't had to use that yet. I have to feather mine a bit every time I start the motor, and I need to lift it a bit to keep it running at first start; especially if it's cold.
waterdog1 reply :
It is a high idle lever which was used on many of the older model controls
Lendiesel22 reply :
If its cold out that lever makes things alot easier on you. Its great that to this point it was a mystery to you bc most who have had a boat with that type throttle control had cussed that lever to all that is holy a time or two.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 10/5/2015 at 12:47 AM, Way2slow said:It should have nothing to do with the choke. You had it right to start with, it's the idle up for cold start. I don't know of one that activates the choke when raised. Since you can't advance the throttle, to do that you would have to put it in gear, and then you couldn't crank it because the neutral start switch would keep it from cranking, you lift that lever to advance the throttle. All the way up is sometimes too much rpm, but after a couple of times, you will learn the best position. As the motor warms a little and starts gaining rpm, start pushing the lever down until it's all the way down and the motor idles ok.
As for your choke problem, if the solenoid is good, and you don't won't to trouble shoot the wiring, just put you a push button on the console and run a wire directly to the solenoid. Whole lot easier than what you are doing now.
Winner winner chicken dinner. Was a life saver on my old merc.
Brent Christian reply :
Just for cold starts your electronic choke still works i imagine, ideal for when you first start it. Have one on mine, just like these new boats except new one you pull your throttle lever out to put in neautral.
fishnkamp reply :
Almost all of the Merc with carbs or EFI have a throttle control box that had a center "button" in the throttle lever. The standard throttle handle consists of the handle and a lever located on its lower side. To go into gear you must pull up on the lower lever and then push the handle forward or backward. If however you
push in the center button and lifted the lower part of the throttle handle and advanced the lever forward you would only engage the fast idle, leaving the engine in neutral. I know that sounded complicated but if you saw the normal side controller for a Merc you would understand it easily.
JGBassinAL reply :
Not exactly sure what it is called but my aluminum crappie boat has one. It is not a choke lever though I know that for sure. On my aluminum you have to raise that lever and hold up the choke when you first crank it in the morning to get it to start.
Robeng reply :
Same on a 1991 Mercury. Cold idle lever.
fishnkamp reply :
All Mercury two stroke carbureted and EFI engines had either that lever or in the middle area of the throttle lever had a button. You push in the button and advance the throttle lever forward, this would lock the engine in neutral and advance the engine speed for quicker warm up. The choke was still used as well. I believe the Optis have a similar setup.
chadmack282 reply :
Its to raise rpms while in nuetral.
u can't shift into gear with rpms raised
Josh Smith reply :
Do carbureted boat motors have fast idle cams attached to the chokes like those on cars?
Is this lever the analogue to the fast idle cam?
Josh
Redlinerobert reply :
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