Newbie question RE: 83 E'Rude Control Box

Weav

Cadet
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Jun 24, 2007
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27
Hello all. I am new to boating and just picked up a '72 Crestliner with an '83 Evinrude 70 hp model@ E70ELCTE. The guy I bought the boat from didn't have a clue regarding wiring anything and had the motor wired all kinds of messed up. I have repaired the wiring and finally got the motor to start. The problem I am having is that I have absolutely no clue as to what type of control box this motor is supposed to have. The boat came with a mercruiser control box and cables hooked up to the motor. I have no control over idle and when i start the motor, the thing idles really high. I tried adjust the controls and restarting the motor. The thing proceded to start and head straight for top speed and wouldn't shut off. I ended up cutting the fuel supply to get the motor to shut off. I do have a Seloc manual, but it's really vague wrt the control boxes. I really want to get this thing out on the water soon and am at a stopping point. I searched several threads tonight and got some good info, but nothing really helped me figure out what type of control box I would need. Does it need to have two cables or one? Also, what keeps the cables secure in the linkage on the motor?? Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to provide.

V/r,
Weav
 

WillyBWright

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Dec 29, 2003
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8,200
Re: Newbie question RE: 83 E'Rude Control Box

That box isn't going to be compatible for that motor. The cables used are of different styles, and Merc uses a 6" throw and that Johnson uses a 5" throw.

You can get around the cable compatibility issue if you have Morse Red Jacket SAE cables. There are adapter kits that fit the various makes. You'd need Merc adapters for the control end and Johnson adapters for the motor end. Most controls are designed with two places to attach the ends. The one closest to the pivot point would be the one to choose for Johnson. But if you have to go through all that trouble and expense, you might as well get a good used control. The adapted cables are klunky.
 

tashasdaddy

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51,019
Re: Newbie question RE: 83 E'Rude Control Box

i believe you motor has the big red harness plug, and control on ebay that has that big red plug will work with that motor. only if the motor has trim and tilt, you need a control with the trim & tilt feature. if you motor doesn't have T&T, either control will work, the extra wires a just ignored.
 

Weav

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Jun 24, 2007
Messages
27
Re: Newbie question RE: 83 E'Rude Control Box

Yes, it does have the red connector which I had to complete rebuild. I have been looking on Ebay and have seen some of the control boxes they have, and they all look to be a single control cable. If that's the case, how do they hook up to the throttle and shift linkage on the motor? Can somebody send me a picture of the motor with the cables connected??
 

tashasdaddy

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51,019
Re: Newbie question RE: 83 E'Rude Control Box

from the control you have a wiring harness, throttle cable and shift cable, the throttle & shift cable are a sheath with a stainless steel wire inside that slides, to move the linkage on the motor. these cables have to be the proper length for you motor.
 

Weav

Cadet
Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
27
Re: Newbie question RE: 83 E'Rude Control Box

I understand what the control cables are and how they function. What my question is does the control box need to have two cables (one for the throttle and one for shift) or one cable? If it's supposed to have one cable, how does it hook up to the motor? Mind you, I bought this boat/motor used and I assume that it is missing pieces that the Seloc manual doesn't show. I went to evinrude dot com and downloaded some of their literature and that too didn't show me how the cable or cables hook up to the throttle and shift linkage. That is why I asked if somebody who has an '83 70hp could snap a picture of the linkage hooked up to the cable or cables. That's the missing piece to the puzzle and the only thing keeping me from launching the boat for the first time.
 
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