Perfect Pass troubleshooting help

[Aguavidapirate]

I've searched the forum and found some similar threads, but nothing exact. So the situation is that the Perfect Pass either never drops the throttle back or floors the engine immediately on starting the engine.

 

It's been a long saga for a system that originally worked and then stopped holding speed. We then tweaked it, started replacing parts, and eventually got into the above situation. We've been on calls with PP, had a mechanic look at it, and all to no avail so far. Our next option is to pull it all off and re-install from scratch in hopes that it's something we're missing with troubleshooting.

 

Has anybody come across this situation? Basically it seems we're operating at the extremes - the revving on startup is because just the servo tightening at startup goes well beyond the idle point. Winding the servo string in reverse (which is obviously wrong, but a desperate guess) means it never engages because it's just operating in the slack.

 

Is it possible something outside of the mechanisms that are part of the system is a miss? Any ideas of things to try?

 

Thanks for any help!!!

[UWSkier]

That doesn't sound right. PerfectPass can't add throttle. It can only remove throttle. When you say it's flooring the engine on startup, that seems like something else has to be happening.

[Dacon62]

Only a few things it can be.

String is wound backwards on the servo shaft.

Throttle return spring is weak and not reacting quickly enough.

Or ...??

[Andre]

Your boat is throttle by wire? MC by any chance? Slide wire could be dirty or not giving the right signal to computer...

Tell us what boat you got...

 

[BraceMaker]

Loosen then servo knob engine off key off.

Throttle linkage should be firmly shut by its return spring. Turn key on don't start engine cable should fully tighten. Throttle linkage should now be closed move the throttle linkage should be fully tight and throttle should move with throttle as if there were no PP.

 

From here all PP does is spool out to slow down.

 

If it fails those initial tests you have work to do.

 

[BraceMaker]

[BraceMaker]

 

Between these two tests you should be seeing the issue - the only way it should be able to "floor" when the engine starts is if the linkage is set up such that the throttle isn't closing with the handle - which is assembly error.

[Windsurfnut]

There is a set screw on that knob. When I first got my previously enjoyed SN 196, that screw was loose and the PP had odd behavior. Not sure if its your issue, but worth checking

[Aguavidapirate]

Thanks all - some good insights that look like things we haven't tried. Boat is a '98 Nautique, BTW.

[UWSkier]

Can you post a photo of your linkage setup and your PP to throttle cable interface? The only way the servo tightening process could rev the engine would be if the linkage were installed upside-down and there was a ton of slack in the throttle cable.

 

When my PP servo auto-tightens, it pulls up tight to the end of the throttle cable, and in doing so, pins the butterfly actuator linkage up tight against the idle set screw. Yours should be similar.

[On_edge]

This sounds like an installation problem.

See PerfectPass website, Support, StarGazer Installation Instructions, Inboard Mechanical, Figure C.

 

With key OFF, manual throttle in Neutral turn the black servo knob counterclockwise approx 3/4 of a turn. As in Figure C there should be NO gap between the long brass hex on the manual throttle cable and the end of the threaded servo cable adjuster. If there is a gap move the two 10 mm nuts on the adjuster until there is no gap. Tighten the servo knob clockwise fully, then loosen it a bit, there should be no movement of the engine throttle arm. While in Neutral the manual throttle cable keeps the throttle arm pressed against the idle stop and when the servo motor autotightens during power up it cannot move the engine throttle arm.