Home built Single lever control question

[Weirdnerd]

I have an outboard engine without controls, I am in the process of starting a restoration, which will include replacing all broken wiring, paint, impeller, etc, but I have no throttle quadrant to test it. as I got the engine for free, and I don't want to buy a very expensive single lever control just to test it, I am exploring the possibility to build my own control, I have access to thick aluminum ( up to 0.25") , a CAD cutting machine ( only plunge and cut, no fancy 3D thing here), I can make my own cables for testing, I can bend aluminum and I am somewhat profficient on CAD drawing to make it work. does anyone have a blue print of a single lever control with dimensions? or better still, a .DXF file of an existing project?. I would be very grateful to have some information to start the building process.

PS. the engine is a US Marine force 125, I know it is not a holy grail of an engine, but I would love to make it roar again.

 

[Weirdnerd]

Here are a couple pictures of the patient:

 

[jimmbo]

Have you checked e-bay for a control box?

 

[Chris1956]

Controls for an outboard have a specific throw spec for the shift and throttles. It would be hard to find out that spec and harder still to build it. Why not make a dual handle control with lots of throw for the shift lever (neutral in center) and the same for the throttle lever? Two lever controls are used on lots of inboard and sterndrive applications. They used to be used on older Johnnyrudes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

buy used controls.

the cost to make one on your own, even if you have all the lasers and CNC equipment would be 4X the cost of a new one. used will be about 25X less expensive.

 

[Weirdnerd]

It is just the thrill of building my own, sometimes you have all the materials, and the tooling to make it, it is a case of "because I can" itis....

 

[Weirdnerd]

The travel of the cables is very easy to find, when you have the engine, all you need is a ruler. ( I work on aircraft, I have some understanding on "trimming an engine")

Controls for an outboard have a specific throw spec for the shift and throttles. It would be hard to find out that spec and harder still to build it. Why not make a dual handle control with lots of throw for the shift lever (neutral in center) and the same for the throttle lever? Two lever controls are used on lots of inboard and sterndrive applications. They used to be used on older Johnnyrudes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have access to millions of dollars in lasers and cnc equipment. However the $50 in materials, 40 hours of design, and 50 hours of fab work to make one control assembly is still not worth the effort for a $25 ebay or $10 CL purchase

 

[GA_Boater]

Why do you even need a control just to find out if the motor runs and shifts?

 

[Weirdnerd]

Never mind.

 

[jimmbo]

( I work on aircraft, I have some understanding on "trimming an engine")

Please explain what you meant when you said "I have some understanding on "trimming an engine"".

 

[Weirdnerd]

Please explain what you meant when you said "I have some understanding on "trimming an engine"".

Rigging engine controls to the correct travel in accordance to the manufacturer specifications, or adjusting engine controls based on true fuel control lever travel and specified lower and upper RPM parameters.

Will design my own, found some information somewhere else.

 

[jimmbo]

Just buy a used one on ebay. Will cost about 0.2% of what you are going to waste designing/building your own

FYI, Your idea of 'trimming an Engine' isn't what boaters consider 'trimming an Engine'