Andrew Pace
It is possible for a boat to go faster in reverse than it does when moving forward. This could be due to a number of reasons, including a faulty shift cable or a spun hub.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boat engine goes in reverse but not forward | Mercury 115 |
| Engine works in reverse but not forward | 50hp Force outboard |
| Engine works in reverse but not forward | Could be the shift cable in need of adjustment |
| Engine works in reverse but not forward | Could be a spun hub |
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What You'll Learn
A boat engine can go as fast as you want in reverse
To check the shift cable, pull the cowling off the engine and identify the shift cable and the throttle by shifting forward and reverse. Disconnect the shift cable, put the boat in the water and shift it manually. If the engine still doesn't work, your lower unit is shot. If it works, adjust the shift cable so it moves the shift lever all the way forward and all the way in reverse.
It's worth noting that this issue is not due to a spun hub, as 99.99999% of the time, a spun hub will cause the same problem in reverse as in forward.
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The engine might not go forward
Another possible reason for the engine not going forward is a problem with the ignition system or EFI system. To test this, disconnect all coils and hook them up to an adjustable gap spark testing tool. Ensure the gap on the test tool is set to 7/16ths of an inch, then crank the engine over and see if a spark jumps the gap. If it doesn't, the ignition and EFI systems will need further troubleshooting.
Additionally, it's important to check the fuel pressure. This should be done with the boat in the water, in forward gear, and going as fast as possible.
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The engine might stutter when going faster
A boat engine will go as fast as you want in reverse, but there are some issues that can cause the engine to stutter when going faster. For example, the shift cable may need adjusting. To check this, pull the cowling off the engine and disconnect the shift cable. Then, put the boat in the water and shift it manually. If the engine still doesn't work, your lower unit is shot. If it does work, adjust the shift cable so it moves the shift lever all the way forward and all the way in reverse.
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The shift cable might need adjusting
If your boat engine goes faster in reverse than it does when going forward, it could be that the shift cable needs adjusting. This is a simple fix. First, pull the cowling off the engine. Then, figure out which cable is the shift cable and which one is the throttle by shifting forward and reverse. Once you've done that, disconnect the shift cable. Put the boat in the water and shift it manually. If the engine still doesn't work, your lower unit is shot. If it works, just adjust the shift cable so it moves the shift lever all the way forward and all the way in reverse.
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The lower unit might be shot
A boat engine can go as fast as you want in reverse, but it won't go over 200 rpms in forward. This could be due to a number of issues. For example, the shift cable may need adjusting. To check this, pull the cowling off the engine and disconnect the shift cable. Then put the boat in the water and shift it manually. If the engine still doesn't work, your lower unit might be shot. If it does work, just adjust the shift cable so it moves the shift lever all the way forward and all the way in reverse.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a boat engine in reverse will go as fast as you want it to.
This could be due to a number of issues, including a faulty shift cable or a spun hub.
If you have a spun hub, 99.99999% of the time it will do the same thing in reverse as forward.
You should pull the cowling off the engine and disconnect the shift cable. Put the boat in the water and shift it manually. If the engine still doesn't work, your lower unit is shot.
