Will electric shift lower unit work with manual?

[swabbie63]

I have a 1968 85 HP Evinrude that has a bad lower unit. It is a manual shift unit. I am trying to determine what options I have for finding a replacement lower unit. Can the electric shift lower unit be used with my motor if I run the wires through the upper housing somewhere and up to the controls? Also, what other years and horse power's will work with my system? My model # is: 85853A, and serial is: E02053. Thank you for all your help.<br />Eldon

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Will electric shift lower unit work with manual?

I don't know about the mechanical fit of the electric unit on your midsection, but I wouldn't do it. Hang in there for the mechanical shift unit. You don't need the hassles of the electric shift, IMO.<br /><br />Check with an outboard wrecking yard. They'll know about compatibility. Try tcoutboard.com. I like those folks.

 

[swabbie63]

Re: Will electric shift lower unit work with manual?

Thank you sir for your advice to stay away from the electric shift units. I wondered if they had a history of problems. I will stay with the manual shift (now, if I could only get my hands on one of those). Once again, Thanks.

 

[solidwaste75]

Re: Will electric shift lower unit work with manual?

I herd from a reliable mech that the old electric shifters when they had a problem would default to netraul so once it did that you couldnt go anywhere. So at some point after the coast gard had to keep towing people back in they changed the default to forward but I do not know what year that was.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Will electric shift lower unit work with manual?

Well....not quite true solidwaste....beginning around 69', the default gear was forward. This was done to get you home in case the solenoids failed or you lost power to the solenoids.