Throttle linkage and box advice.... Merc vs HyLex

[jennis9]

I hope I explain this properly... I know I am in the right place for experience.

Boat: 20' openbow Starcraft Aluminum with a Merc 140 - and a HyLex throttle [box].

Problem: We started having trouble with our idle.. we would stall at low speeds. So we had our guy take a look at our engine. The diagnosis was that we need a new throttle cable - ours has a wear spot in it - I know this is common. Especially in a 30 year old boat.

Solution/comflict: The guys ordered the new cable - but the issue is that our motor is a Merc and the throttle box is a HyLex. From what I understand - there is an incompatibility issue here. if we had a merc throttle, we'd be golden and back on the water...

So there may be a conversion box - which I am told has issues with looseness/sloppiness and is costly. not opposed to cost - just want a safe repair BUT I'm not going to pay $400 for a sloppy throttle.

So we are looking for a Merc box at this point.

Anyone have a different spin on this? Or experience with this conversion unit? Trust issues with my mechanic are not an issue - this guy tries to get the best solution for the job. And made our kicker purr after years of neglect from a loan to a family member... Just want to know if there's anything else to suggest.

Thanks in advance

 

[jennis9]

Re: Throttle linkage and box advice.... Merc vs HyLex

Help.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Throttle linkage and box advice.... Merc vs HyLex

original equipment always works best.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Throttle linkage and box advice.... Merc vs HyLex

I agree... since I am not the original owner of the boat though - do you think the HyLex is an aftermarket? If I go with a Merc box - can I get a used one?

I am ignorant to the mechanical side of things like this. Electrical, rebuild - I get it. I am confused why the linkage/cable system worked-- or did before the wear. now that I need to replace it... why does it need a converter?

Confused. This one is over my head - you may need to dumb it down for me -- I know what I don't know here.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Throttle linkage and box advice.... Merc vs HyLex

OK, I am answering my own question here since my mechanic was on the phone with Mercury for 45 minutes trying to find out how a Merc cable can connect to a HyLex controller.

In the catalog - there is one universal photo, but in reality there are several different generations of the cable available. SO, if this happens to you, find out what generation cable you need to connect so your repair doesn't end up costing you a new cable AND a new control box. you really only need the correct GENERATION of cable.

Hope this helps someone else... it had us scratching our heads for a while.