MerControl crazy issue

[superwooter]

well i was going to start off by posting a picture file of the mercontrol diagram but photobucket downsized it too small to see anything. so instead, here's a link to another thread that has a good quality copy attached. its about 12 posts down....
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=120947&highlight=MERCONTROL+DIAGRAM

my problem is with part numbers 13-16 which are:
13-detent pin
14-detent pin spring
15-detent pin tension spring
16-welch plug

a few days ago while fishing, i raised the throttle arm and i heard a spring vibrate. i tried to lower the throttle arm and it would not set all the way back down. i raised it back up to see what the obstruction was when i noticed that a spring was sticking out the back of the MerControl housing! i had to hold the spring in with a knife blade in order to be able to lower the throttle arm. so now the throttle arm is all that is holding the spring in. i guess the housing must have become weak and given out behind the spring.

has anyone experienced this before, and does anyone have any idea how to go about fixing it? also, what does this spring do? will it cause problems if i simply remove the spring?

thanks,
superwooter

 

[superwooter]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

any takers?

 

[j_martin]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

any takers?

It's a detent spring. Without it you wouldn't have the positive feel of neutral on the shift/throttle lever.

If there's enough room, you could JBweld a small piece of sheet metal over the hole. You could probably rig a wooden wedge and use the throttle lever to hold it in place till it cures.

I'm still working on my redneck rigging qualification.

hope it helps
John

 

[njrextreme]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

I have a working 74 mercontrol in great shape if your interested. Should just be a plug and play for you. It has the linkage cables still on, key switch and choke switch inc.. No main wiring, the switch and choke were cut off but you will be using your own anyways. Its off a 16 foot 74 glasstron v. Let me know.
Nick


it looks like this one- ill let it go for $50.00 plus actual shipping cost to me. paypal only

 

[superwooter]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

let me see if i can rig up the one i have in some ridiculous fashion first. if that doesn't work, you've got a deal. i won't have time to deal with it until monday or tuesday though. will that be alright?
thanks,
superwooter

 

[j_martin]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

Redneck isn't ridiculous, unless you're not redneck enough.

 

[superwooter]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

did you notice that i live in Mississippi? I've got "redneck" down!

 

[njrextreme]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

let me see if i can rig up the one i have in some ridiculous fashion first. if that doesn't work, you've got a deal. i won't have time to deal with it until monday or tuesday though. will that be alright?
thanks,
superwooter

No prob, its just laying on a shelf in the garage. I converted my quick silver control to work and have no use for this one. Shoot me a email if you need it.

njrextreme@yahoo.com

 

[superwooter]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

well i tried out the mercontrol without the detent spring and it seems to funtion normally. so for now i guess i'm just gonna roll with it.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

Those are not the neutral detent pieces, those would be parts 3 and 4 in the diagram. You would definitely be unsafe without those, since a slight brush of the arm could put the boat in gear.

I believe parts 13-16 have to do with holding the warm-up lever in the down position when it's not in use. As long as you do not find yourself accidentally pulling up the lever with your shirt sleeve, you should be OK without those.

 

[79Merc80]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

I had a MerControl that lost that spring that held down the warm up lever, I ended up having to tie a nylon string around the key switch that I could pull over the warm up lever to keep it from coming up when I advanced the throttle to pull a skier. Without the string/spring, the warm up lever would come up when I tried to take off and limit the throttle to just advancing the timing.

Hope it works for you.

Craig

 

[ajgraz]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

^^^

Hadn't considered that. Sounds like a hassle that would make boating less fun. I'd fix it or pony up for the replacement unit offered earlier in the thread.

 

[superwooter]

Re: MerControl crazy issue

figured i'd give an update now that i know exactly what the issue is...
part 13 is a plastic piece that provides pressure on the warm-up lever. it is given this pressure by the spring that is part 14. what happened was after 30+ years of use, the warm up lever wore the plastic thin on part 13 causing spring 14 to break through. the unsprung husk of part 13 is still in place and after about 12 hours of boating without spring 14 in place, it still seems to be performing its job the same as when the spring was still in place.
so for me, it's still working. if it starts to act up, i will most likely buy the offered MerControl if it is still available.
thanks guys.
superwooter