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  1. #1
    Mercury 3L/4 Stroke/Verado Moderator EuropeanAM's Avatar
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    Post Hotfoot Setup & Adjustment

    Many have asked about how to adjust the throttle-cable and/or hotfoot:

    1. Disconnect throttle cable from Anchor point at engine.





    2. Confirm that engine can reach WOT by MANUALLY operating the throttle arm on side of engine. Shutters should be .001"-.020" (1/16" if working with the roller/cam) from their mechanical stop (so as not to "hammer" the throttle plates and cause premature wear).



    3. Adjust throttle cable so that it holds ENGINE throttle arm FIMRLY against the IDLE STOP (usually the BOTTOM screw on the black throttle arm, port side of engine). DO NOT alter ANY SCREW SETTINGS on this throttle arm!



    4. Connect cable with attachment nut, snugging the nut down. BACK NUT OFF 3/4 turn (the black plastic washer should spin freely under the nut).

    5. On the hotfoot, loosen jam nut for the WOT stop screw, and turn the screw WELL AWAY from the pedal.

    6. Depress hotfoot to WOT position- have someone check to ensure WOT was reached at engine. HOLD HOTFOOT HERE.

    7. Turn stop screw COUNTECLOCKWISE until it just contacts the pedal (pedal still at WOT position). Release pedal.

    8. Turn stop screw 1/2 to ONE TURN FURTHER counterclockwise- hold it in place, and tighten the jam nut (this step helps to prevent throttle cable stretching).

    9. Depress hotfoot firmly to WOT position. Verify engine reaching wide open throttle.

    *This thread has been placed in the "Commonly Asked- Commonly Used" Sticky Post (at the top of this forum). :thumbup:

    ** Thanks to potamicbassin for providing some of the images.
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    Last edited by EuropeanAM; 01-21-2021 at 12:43 PM. Reason: Old Thread would not update.


    Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
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  2. Member Largemouthlou's Avatar
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    #2
    Good info for sure!!! Thanks Don

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    #3
    After using a micrometer and a feeler gauge I'm just a bit out so I adjusted as you posted! Thank you!
    Gary \"Big Red\" Freeman, USAF Retired

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  4. Member fishnfireman's Avatar
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    #4
    I have always added a spring on the motor from the throttle cable to the block...

  5. Mercury 3L/4 Stroke/Verado Moderator EuropeanAM's Avatar
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    #5
    Quote Originally Posted by fishnfireman View Post
    I have always added a spring on the motor from the throttle cable to the block...
    This should not be required on Optimax or EFI models.


    Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
    Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 47 years (learn something new every day).
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  6. Member fishnfireman's Avatar
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    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by EuropeanAM View Post
    This should not be required on Optimax or EFI models.

    May not be required ... But it will help to make sure the throttle returns to the idle position..
    More like a back up safety than a required part if something else fails..
    I have had the bolt that attaches the throttle cable to my hotfoot back out....
    If not for the extra spring I would have been up POOP creek..

  7. Member eliteangler's Avatar
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    #7
    Mine will not reach WOT on the stop at the engine as stated in step 2 in the OP. Should I adjust the stop screw that is behind the VST?
    Sam Dunaway
    2005 Triton TR-21X
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  8. Member eliteangler's Avatar
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    #8
    So... I guess I need to do a TPS voltage sweep test? I found this thread to be exactly what I am experiencing with mine: http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread....tle+adjustment
    Sam Dunaway
    2005 Triton TR-21X
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  9. Mercury 3L/4 Stroke/Verado Moderator EuropeanAM's Avatar
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    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by eliteangler View Post
    So... I guess I need to do a TPS voltage sweep test? I found this thread to be exactly what I am experiencing with mine: http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread....tle+adjustment
    The stop screw would need to be adjusted, and the CDS utilized to verify your engine is reaching 100% throttle value at WOT.

    Cleaning extra "specific engine" posts from thread.


    Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
    Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 47 years (learn something new every day).
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  10. Member
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    #10
    Here are pictures for steps #1 & #3 above. Don you can delete these once you get the page fixed.

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    2015 Nitro Z-7 175 Pro XS

  11. Member
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    #11
    Great information! Thanks to all parties involved. The extra spring is a safety tip. We used to do an extra spring on the carburetor return spring on oval dirt race cars to prevent a throttle sticking in case the primary one broke. I have seen that happen and cars hit the wall at wide open throttle.

  12. Member bb45's Avatar
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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by fishnfireman View Post
    May not be required ... But it will help to make sure the throttle returns to the idle position..
    More like a back up safety than a required part if something else fails..
    I have had the bolt that attaches the throttle cable to my hotfoot back out....
    If not for the extra spring I would have been up POOP creek..
    I hear you there, it happened to me going into a slough with high school kids in a tourney and I thought cable broke!! screw backed out, as well.. Thank the lord for my quick thinking, reached down and pulled kill switch, backwash coved the whole rear deck.
    2012 Stratos 294 Evolution, Mercury 200 PROXS (1B933452)// HDS live 12, HDS Pro 10 with AT 1, HDS Carbon 12 with SS3D, point 1, sonichub2, Lowrance Ghost, and 3 Ionic lithium batteries.

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