Mercontrol center button struck in.

[gwizz00001]

I have a 1969 Glastron with a 4 cylinder 120. The control lever is a single lever with a push button for engaging the engine in neutral. It has been working fine. I had it neutral with the button pushed in and now it won't come out and I can't get the lever to move back to the middle position. That is when the button normally with pop out. Now the is resistance and I don't want to force it. I think the control is Mercontrol model C-37782-A1 or a B-64326A1. They both look the same. Any help with be great. I tried WD40.

 

[zellerj]

Try disconnecting the shift cable from the engine. That will tell you if it is in the lower unit or the control lever.

 

[achris]

Try disconnecting the shift cable from the engine. That will tell you if it is in the lower unit or the control lever.

With the button in, the shift cable is disengaged. The only cable to move is the throttle cable.

gwizz00001 :welcome: to iboats. That sound very much like a remote control problem. If it was the cable jamming at the engine end, you'd get some small movement in the control (as the inner of the cable moves a little inside the cable jacket)... Not sure how your control box is mounted, but you may be able to dismount it and open up the back of it.

Chris.........

 

[Scott Danforth]

Use the handle end of a screw driver and tap on the handle. Many times it will dislodge the button

You will need to pull the control apart

 

[gwizz00001]

Thanks for your replies. I forgot to write in my entry that the whole out drive is off the engine in a shop to have the forward, reverse and clutch replaced. After 50 years it was about due. I couldn't get in reverse any more even after the cable was replaced a few years ago.
When the problem started I had the shift lever in mid throttle forward position with the button pushed in so I could get the engine started for a few seconds. I had replaced the ignition coil and was trying to get the boat started after it sat for a while. I moved the throttle level on the carb back and forth so I could see if gas was shooting out of the jets in the carb. After that when I went back to the lever to put it in the upright position the button would not pop out. I am wondering if moving the carb throttle control on the carb caused something to get out of whack in the control panel?

 

[achris]

Nothing you do at the engine end would cause the button to stay in. The problem is in the remote control. It could also be just 'it's 50 years old'....

Chris.........

 

[gm280]

Not totally sure, but if you could search the net for a breakdown diagram of your control unit, it would give you some insight as to how it is assembled. And that may allow you to disassemble it without breaking it any further. And it could also offer (maybe) part numbers as well for any replacement part. Just a thought out loud...