Throttle /Gear Control Replacement

[Devin1989]

First time boat owner...just bought a boat seems like it is very rough when shifting from forward to reverse and it missing the neutral switch on the control box as well ..personally the whole think just look and feel like she has some miles on her my question is how much of a pain is this to replace with a new single throttle control box? How do I know which ones will fit? these are all thing I have not clue about lol..if anyone can give me a school lesson on this I would much appreciate it ...motor is I believe a 1981 mercury model 500 outboard ..unsure of the control model I assume its stock as it says mercury in blue on it as well..Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.... The job ain't tooooo bad,....

Ya wanta buy a control that says it's for, or will work with, a Merc outboard,.....

 

[Devin1989]

So anything that is mec outboard just remove the cables and swing them over and they should just pop on pretty much

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Pretty much,.....

 

[Devin1989]

thanks for the insight... any idea on how to mount them securely last guy used L brackets didn't work out so well crack the throttle control housing over the years... now you can barley shift it with out it almost falling apart lol

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Most mount directly to the side-panel,.....

 

[danalex]

I don't know if you are done with this or not, I have a tip or two that I discovered the hard way. First, use only stainless steel. It costs a little more but doesn't corrode. Second, take your time and use the largest bolts and nuts(with nylon locks) you can. Tighten securely so you have no play, and you should be in good shape. Make sure the heads of your bolts are correct - panhead or flat backed bolts if your control has a flat place for the bolt to go through, and tapered head if the hole is made for a taper (not the correct name for the head type, sorry).

 

[Devin1989]

I haven't fix it yet..I have everything taken apart..figured out I need a 8 pin. Looks like someone has done a custom wire job under the console as most new controls come with a plug.... looks like the plug was cut off and hand wired just been looking trying catch a deal on some new controls most of them around the $230 mark...then ill begin the remounting process thanks for the tip thought ill keep them in mind...this set up is a small alumina panel with a broken up block of wood going to replace the wood and hope whatever new controls I get as replacements will line up with the holes in the alumina panel and ill just have to dill the new wood