1997 Speedester will not back up at all

[James Bond]

Bought a 97 speedester and will not back up at all.
I have disconnected the cable to the jet cover things and adjusted the turn buckle all the way to the end of the cable and all the way in as far as I can make it and now I have set it to the middle.
I do not see any water pursing back under the boat when in reverse.
When in reverse the boat does not move backwards or forwards it is a solid neutral.

I know the cable is working but i have noticed it is hard to get it out of the Forward Drive position
have to pull real hard to get it into neutral. The detent locks are working locks the jet covers in place.

This is the second 97 speedester I have owned. The last boat did not back all that great but it did have a reverse that worked to back you up.

So I know there is some type of adjustment issue.
Should i make the cable longer or shorter in the control hosing?
Is there some specification of how how the dump gates need to be.
I think that I need to find the spot that the jet gates cause the water to flow back under the boat.
So anyone have the same issues.
Seem like others that have a 97 speedester can tell me how well there boat work in reverse.
That might be all I need.

Please Help.

 

[Djs]

The reverse gate should cover the jet nozzle completely when reverse is selected. When in nueral mine only uncovers the grate by a 1/4- 1/2 inch and when in the forward position it must be completely clear of the Nozzle.

 

[Andy Hunter]

I had the same problem with my 96 challenger. Replaced the cable (it was pretty expensive...$240 if memory serves.) and it works fine now. I think the cable stretches over time and there is not enough adjustment available to get it back to spec. As you can see from the manual, it only asks that bot locks engage and that the "ear" on the gate hits the stopper when in reverse.