1983 Evinrude 90hp v4 control box/ignition question

4426

Cadet
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
21
Hello, I recently purchased a 1983 evinrude 90 to repower my 1967 mfg edinboro custom. Anyhow when the guy removed it from the boat it was on he took to the task with an iron fist with which he just simply cut the wiring harness going to the control box and he cut the control cables as well(not mad because engine was a great deal and he showed it to me run before hand also). Anyhow I realized the old cables were shot and the ignition switch in the control box was also shot because it would only turn if the key was in there a certain way. Anyhow I was wondering if buying a new universal control box to install would be simple and how I would go about wiring an auxilary ignition switch? I wired in a new ignition on my old 1967 mercury but that had much less wires haha.

The universal control I was looking at is this one:
http://www.iboats.com/Side-Mount-Du...8762846--session_id.104586791--view_id.256254

And the ignition switch I was considering:
http://www.iboats.com/Omc-Push-To-C...68762846--session_id.104586791--view_id.39662

If these parts won't work please let me know and if you know of better options please post a link to the proper product. I'd like to do the work myself but am open to taking the boat somewhere to get the work done if its necessary. Also if you think that getting the old control box rebuilt is a better option let me know as i still have it but it deffinately needs a tuneup...
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
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Dec 28, 2013
Messages
39,232
Not sure why anyone would want to go with a 2 lever box on this motor.----Any pictures of the control you have now ?
 

flyingscott

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Apr 8, 2014
Messages
8,289
If the original control box is in good working condition just splice the wiring back together it's all color coded should be easy. Then get new cables they are pretty cheap.
 

Chinewalker

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Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
I concur. Fix what you have - wiring is pretty straightforward to splice back together. Seal it up good when your done with shrink tubing, etc. It's also good practice go with new cables when you purchase an older used motor anyway.

Many drawbacks to the 2-handle throttle & shift control. There is no shift lockout on it, so you could quite easily shift out of forward gear while at speed and tear up the gear case. Also no start lockout on it, so you could start it in gear, again causing all sorts of issues.
 

oldboat1

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Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
agree. Don't know what was going on with the hull (maybe junking it) -- would try to get any dash controls too (e.g., tach). Shoot, if it's a junker I would consider taking the steering as well.
 

4426

Cadet
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
21
I just assumed that I would need a 2 lever because the controller I have now a main lever and then the warm up lever as well. And I grabbed everything off the other boat that was related to the motor(no tach, no dash, the hull was shot, transom was gone basically, and floors were rotted). And ok I'll see if I can get any pictures of it and if I can't get it apart any further. I just know that alot of the screws were seized and stripped so I was going to try and save the effort and just start new but I'm sure I can get it apart if needed/recomended. And the controller moved really stiffly when it was on the boat(but may have just been cables to motor). Do you guys have a link to a better one maybe? I just like the comfort of new is all...
 

4426

Cadet
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
21
Plus the one I posted a link to was the cheapest one haha, I'm on a pretty tight budget due to college but I'm willing to spend the loot if its gonna get done right. And the one with it is a evinrude power pilot.
 

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4426

Cadet
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
21
Well I tore the control apart and got it all greased up and moving good so it should be fine. I guess it was simpler than I thought it was going to be, I remember dealing with the control for the mercury that was on the boat before and I wasn't able to get it back together so that just left a bad taste in my mouth for dealing with controls but this one actually worked out alot better than that old mercontrol. I'm sure the mercontrol was as simple but I couldn't figure it out haha. I'm going to try to rewire it saturday and have it on the water by sunday afternoon hopefully but we'll see if I can find some cables locally(if not its gonna have to wait till next weekend). Will be first water run since putting a new transom in the hull so hopefully all goes well
 
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