Odd shaped motor contol

[road kill]

I was digging through some boxes at a yard sale and found an odd looking motor control box. It was triangular in shape, made of cast aluminum, had a 5 or 6 wire harness with no plug, just individual wires with round eyelets. There were two black rubber push buttons on the front, downward facing side, a single toggle switch on the back edge, and no fast idle lever The cables looked like OMC, one both had the stainless spring clips on the motor end as on my 40hp with Shipmaster dual lever controls. I'm not sure what the two front buttons did, they are the same switch as on most OMC outboards used as a kill button. The single lever was chrome with no center logo or button. I didn't have a camera on me but it's been bugging me as to what they were. I've had a lot of outboards over the years and I've never seen a set of these controls.
They were very compact, had no tilt and trim buttons, and had two cables. Most likely I'd guess they were some early OMC set of controls using a single lever but why no fast idle lever? What would the toggle switch be for? It's not a lanyard switch, it's out in the open. Could the switch be for fast idle, one button for choke, and one for shut down? There was no key switch, and no place for one. They were pretty clean but at the time I didn't recognize them so I put them down and kept digging. Now they have me wondering.
Maybe I'll go back tomorrow and see if their still there and try and get a pic.

 

[road kill]

Re: Odd shaped motor contol

Curiosity was killing me so I went back today and bought the thing. They were only a dollar and chances are I'll sooner or later find a use for them.
There are four wires, two cables, one cable has an eyelet end, the other a stainless flip lock. The cables are the same as those on an old Big Twin I have.
They are also set up to be mounted on the left side of the boat but they look reversible for either side mounting.
The guy that had them said they were on a boat he salvaged for it's outboard about 20 years ago but had no recall as to what that motor was. They work fine, one cable is shot, the two black buttons are momentary buttons and appear to the the same switches used on most outboards as a kill switch.
Any clue as to what these are from or what year? They're obviously older than the round plug era of motors, maybe early 60's? Due to the cables I am at this point thinking they're for an OMC motor, but maybe a Gale or store brand?

Here's a few pics.

 

[captk]

Re: Odd shaped motor contol

I dont see that control in any of my old OMC books. Could be chrysler, west bend, bearcat, mc culloch? thay all used omc stlye cables. The handle may pull straight up or in for fast idel, with only 4 wires the switches are probably, start, stop, and choke. Pull the back cover off and let us see whats inside. cool find good luck with it.

 

[road kill]

Re: Odd shaped motor contol

I'll see if I can get the back off and get some more pics.
I think I can eliminate the Homelite, Bearcat, and Chrysler brands, The Homelite controls were huge compared to this thing. (These are quite small as most control boxes go, smaller overall than the Johnson Shipmaster controls).
All of the Chrysler controls I've had have had offset mounted levers, on either a rectangular or sort of tear drop shaped box with a rectangular rear section.
The guy that had these had a lot of Sea King bits and pieces and some MFG stuff, all from the mid 1960's.

The lever doesn't seem to move in or out or push up or down, the shaft is either threaded or swedged into the hub. The whole assembly feels very well made. The entire box is heavier overall than even a later OMC control box. The lever moves super smooth, and there's a detent stop and solid click in the neutral position.

 

[road kill]

Re: Odd shaped motor contol

I took the back off and got a pic of the internals.
The toggle switch is momentary up, and down, with off in the middle.
As if for tilt and trim but it's only got two wires attached to it? One to the harness, the other is grounded to the box. The box has raised lettering, ON-OFF-ON right by the switch.

Something else I noticed is that the cables go out one side, and the wires are heading the other way? Maybe it went along with a key switch on the dash?
I'm still not clear on what the buttons did? They share one wire, the green wire connects to the second switch though the light blue wire. They appear wired for tilt and trim but I can's say for sure not knowing what they were hooked up too.

 

[Lou Earle]

Re: Odd shaped motor contol

i have a 55 hp bearcat and the control is very similar to mine

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Odd shaped motor contol

Its not a West Bend.