Yamaha Tiller Linkage Adjustment?

I’ve been noticing on my 03 Yamaha 90 HP Tiller that on occasion, the key doesn’t engage the starter on the motor. When that happens, I have to wiggle the gear shifter to get the starter to engage. Not a big deal till yesterday. I’m back to the launch and ready to load, back the trailer in to the water, run over to the boat, turn the key…nothing. So I wiggle the gear shifter. Nothing. More aggressive. Nothing. In and out of forward and reverse many times. Nothing. Seemed like an eternity, but eventually it did start. But I’m wondering what I can do.

You are having problems with the neutral safety. Tighten the nut underneath the shifter. I had a 50 merc that would wiggle lose constantly.

Angler II wrote:

You are having problems with the neutral safety. Tighten the nut underneath the shifter. I had a 50 merc that would wiggle lose constantly.

x2

Easy fix once you locate that switch.

Do a Youtube search and there’s probably a video out there showing how to adjust the neutral safety switch. If not one for Yamaha, watch other brands, they’re similar.

Grouse

Thanks for the replies, boys. A little more help, if you could…I tried Google search and Youtube, but I’m striking out. Can anyone help me? I’m so visual!

Thanks in advance.

Instead of wiggling shift handle,try pulling shift handle slightly forward or reverse to see what direction handle is when it starts(but not letting it shift into gear).That will give you an idea on which way to adjust shift linkage.It is not good to shift into gear while motor is not running.

A service manual goes a long way to avoid having to go to a dealer.The specs for adjustment are sometimes critical to prevent unnecessary wear to shift dogs and such.

What you need to do is go under the cowling and look at the shift linkage. You may have to move some wiring harnesses this/that way so you can see, but as you move the shifter from N to F or R, you’ll see a switch actuator somewhere along the linkage that engages/disengages the Neutral Safety Switch.

Generally that switch will have a threaded body that allows it to be held in place and adjusted with a nut. It’s either loose or has fallen out of adjustment.

It might help to access a parts diagram for your outboard to show the rough location of the switch. I can only do that if you have a complete model number.

Grouse

For the Yamaha motors, there is not an adjustment. There is a switch the becomes depressed when the gear selector is in neutral. The switch may begin to work intermintently as was my case causing me to fiddle with the gear selector to start the motor.

It’s a bugger getting at the switch to replace. I needed a size 10 deep offset wrench to reach the bolts.

Got any pics of what you did?

Sorry, I did not. You may also consider having someone with small hands available to help start the screws. I struggled as my hand was too big. I finally put my son to the job and he got them started.