73 Merc 500 control cable removal

[rafteye]

Hello all,

I just bought a '73 Merc 500. This is my first Mercury motor. I hope it lives up to its reputation! My problem is that there doesn't seem to be an easy way to disconnect the shifter/throttle cables from the engine so I can snake them through the hole in the back "well" up to the control box in front. Am I missing something? I am hesitant to just start disconnecting stuff. Am I going to have to enlarge the hole to fit the control box? That doesn't seem right. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I really want to get this motor in the water! Thanks in advance!

 

[achris]

Re: 73 Merc 500 control cable removal

Where the brass barrel is held in the engine is a lock. Push in and 1/4 turn.

 

[BR]

Re: 73 Merc 500 control cable removal

rafteye,
The top cable is the throttle, the bottom is gear shift. Each cable is connected at the motor at two points, the brass barrel nuts which are stationary and the cable end terminals which move when you move the control. As achris said above the barrel nuts are spring loaded (push away from the motor, align the pin with the vertical slot in the barrel nut and release). Both cables are the same here. The cable end terminals are different for throttle and shift. The throttle end is slipped over a pin which is held in place by a keeper attached to the throttle arm which aslo is spring-loaded and will rotate either way off of the pin so you can remove the cable. The shift cable has a hinged plastic latch mechanism which positively locks the cable down over another pin. Gently pry the latch towards the rear of the boat and it should pop open allowing you to lift the end of the cable up and off. It helps to remove the throttle cable completely before trying to remove the shift cable.

Good Luck!

 

[rafteye]

Re: 73 Merc 500 control cable removal

I appreciate the quick responses. That is what I thought I had to do. It's nice to know how to get those barrel nuts off of there. I'll give that a try today if I can stand the 100 degree day! Thanks again for the answers! My old Johnson came apart completely different!

 

[rafteye]

Re: 73 Merc 500 control cable removal

Got 'er done. Thank you for the help. This forum is a WEALTH of good info!