trouble hooking up new throttle/gear shifter to old cables-help!

twindad

Recruit
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
3
My twin little girls are begging me to get the boat in the water, but I can't get the new single-lever throttle/shifter to work. The old cables are OMC, but when I attach them as directions show, throttle cable is not long enough to reach neutral position to allow shifting. Johnson 25 HP motor, cable is push to open throttle. Don't know brand of old controller, but new one is Morse SL-3<br />Do I have to buy new cables? Am I missing something? I'd really appreciate any help/suggestions!
 

danny k

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Messages
39
Re: trouble hooking up new throttle/gear shifter to old cables-help!

How much shorter is the new cable compared to the old? If only a matter of inches perhaps you can move your control box closer to the engine. Other then that it sounds like new cables are your only other option.
 

MGuckin

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 10, 2001
Messages
760
Re: trouble hooking up new throttle/gear shifter to old cables-help!

I agree with danny k but check for linkage adjustment at the motor. Should be a threaded rod. Might be able to compensate for the length difference.
 

twindad

Recruit
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
3
Re: trouble hooking up new throttle/gear shifter to old cables-help!

Thanks very much to Danny K and Mike (MG) who responded to my question. I didn't make clear that the overall cable length was fine, the problem was that the inner cable, when the outer cable was anchored properly, wasn't the correct length. MG's response that I should check the threaded rod at the engine end was what I needed. Turned out it was already all the way out (inner cable must be stretched or something), but looking at the whole thing again helped me realize I shouldn't follow the diagram in the instructions but instead use the mirror image. Cable STILL was slightly off, but I hooked it up anyway figuring I'd just have to do without reverse. Once attached to the engine controller, the controller had enough leverage to compress the cable the last ~1/8 or 1/4 inch, and the engine controller works fine. Now I have a new problem (what else is new?)--see my next post. Again, thanks very much to Danny K and MG for your responses. -glen
 
Top