connecting controls to old Mercury 115

bhammond

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Aug 15, 2004
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I bought an old Mirro Craft center-console boat with a 1978 Mercury 115 HP outboard. The boat was a total wreck with a had a home-made wooden center console, with the controls hanging off the side. I replaced the console but had a problem when I hooked up the controls. When I push the lever forward the prop does not turn in either<br />direction, when the lever is pulled back the prop turns in 1 direction. From what I have heard this is backwards. I had taken the controls apart to remove from the old console so I may have done something wrong in there. I also had help removing them from the engine and so they were not labeled either. The control is a single lever with a red and black button for the trim and a button to release the arm for cold start. What should I do?
 

Chris1956

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Mar 25, 2004
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

You need to determine if the control is bad or the motor's gearcase is misaligned. Take off the cowling of the motor and observe where the lower control cable is attached to the shift arm of the motor. Put the contol in neutral (center of its travel, aka straight up). Now move the control forward, and the shift arm should move forward. if the shift arm doesn't move forward and back in conjunction with the control, the control is bad. If the shift arm does move, it is likely the control is good and there is a problem with the motor.<br /><br />In forward, the propshaft should turn forward(clockwise as viewed from the rear) with a rachet-like sound. In neutral the propshaft should turn both ways freely. In reverse the propshaft should not turn more than 1/3 revolution in either direction.<br /><br />If it turns out the gearshift works the exact opposite of what is normal, you will need to drop the lowerunit and resynchronize the gearcase to the shift lever.
 

bhammond

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Aug 15, 2004
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Originally posted by Fishing-VT:<br /> I bought an old Mirro Craft center-console boat with a 1978 Mercury 115 HP outboard. The boat was a total wreck with a had a home-made wooden center console, with the controls hanging off the side. I replaced the console but had a problem when I hooked up the controls. When I push the lever forward the prop does not turn in either<br />direction, when the lever is pulled back the prop turns in 1 direction. From what I have heard this is backwards. I had taken the controls apart to remove from the old console so I may have done something wrong in there. I also had help removing them from the engine and so they were not labeled either. The control is a single lever with a red and black button for the trim and a button to release the arm for cold start. What should I do?
 

bhammond

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Aug 15, 2004
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

The shifting does work but it is backwards. Can this control be changed so the controls can be mounted the other way? That is: change so the throttle/shift release button is on the left?
 

Chris1956

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Mar 25, 2004
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28,473
Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Fishing-VT, It sounds like the motor shift mechanism is misaligned. I would fix it, since I am unsure if it is "good" for the motor to be run in that fashion, and it is only about 15 min work.<br /><br />I will presume the merc control would work on the right or left, but I have never tried to do that. Sorry, I'm not too much help on this!
 

bhammond

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Aug 15, 2004
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Originally posted by Chris1956:<br /> Fishing-VT, It sounds like the motor shift mechanism is misaligned. I would fix it, since I am unsure if it is "good" for the motor to be run in that fashion, and it is only about 15 min work.<br /><br />I will presume the merc control would work on the right or left, but I have never tried to do that. Sorry, I'm not too much help on this!
 

bhammond

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Aug 15, 2004
Messages
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Chris1956, thanks for your input, I am bringing the controls to a mechanic who works on a lot of older boats, he thinks they may be reversable depending on how the cables are connected internally but he needs to see it to decide. I will post what he finds as I may still be in the same boat.
 

gewf631

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 4, 2003
Messages
489
Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Fishing-VT , by any chance, did you do a search for "Controls" in this forum?<br /><br />On a whim, I did one, and wound-up with over 300 matches.<br /><br />Replacing that with "controls backward" got 6 matches.<br /><br />Or "control diagram" got 24 matches.<br /><br />"Control adjustment" got 32 matches.<br /><br />Just a suggestion, instead of bumping your post ;)
 

phatmanmike

Captain
Joined
Oct 24, 2003
Messages
3,869
Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

hey, for what os worth, i hooked up a set of quicksilver controls, but i hooked up the cable on the control box side, backward, so i pull back for forward and push for reverse, i have the 2 handle style, 1 for throttle and 1 for shift. i kinda like it
 

bhammond

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Aug 15, 2004
Messages
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Well the mechanic was pretty busy and didn't think he could reverse the control from handle on right to handle on left. I would think there must be some adjustment for this because I can't believe the controls are sold for either left or right side. If anyone has a diagram and a way to reverse the handle so it works on the other side I would greatly appreciate it. I now know that it is a Mercury binnacle control.
 

bhammond

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Joined
Aug 15, 2004
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Re: connecting controls to old Mercury 115

Well I got the controls back after 3 weeks with no progress and no used controls in the area. I decided to take a whack at it myself and after 30 minutes I was done and they worked. I ended up turning the shaft around, leaving the internal cams, etc. in the same position.<br />Thanks to all who responded.
 
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