mid 70s Evinrude 85hp - new control box?

[heckhole]

I have a mid 70s Evinrude 85hp. It's a great motor and a great boat. However, my evinrude control box has seen it's day. The trim button is busted (installed a trim tab on dash), the box itself looks gross, my ignition switch is just about toast also.

I'd like a nice brand new set of controls, every boat I've owned has had a box on its last life and for once I'd enjoy mine being brand new and trouble free.

Is it at all possible to purchase a control box and cables with the trim button on the hande, lever idle, choke switch and the proper ignition switch? Or should I just purchase a new ignition switch, and call it a day?

 

[Bosunsmate]

You could ring a dealer and find out

 

[emdsapmgr]

You need one of the old style OMC control boxes. The ones with the red plug on the engine end of the control box harness. Thousands of these around, used. Probably inexpensive. Check ebay. In 1995, OMC changed these boxes. They use a different (1979 and later) control cables. The main wire harness has special deutch connectors and won't fit your red plug on the engine. You can buy an adapter harness from Bombardier in order to adapt the control harness to the old red plug on the engine. My guess is that a new control box is probably in the $400 range. You'll need to get that new adapter harness and then figure out how to adapt the throttle shift cables, as the cables will need to have some adapting done. Probably the least cost route is a used one. Be sure to get a box with the trim control button in the handle.

 

[phillnjack2]

buy a good used early 90s box. trim on the handle, push to choke, idle lever, and your gear and throttle cables will fit easy. fit and nice boxes.
new boxes are way too expensive and wont last as long.

 

[heckhole]

I have been looking for used boxes, not too much luck. Dealers are absolutely out of the question, too many bad experiences.

 

[Chrisravosa36]

I have been looking for used boxes, not too much luck. Dealers are absolutely out of the question, too many bad experiences.

There are many many many on ebay! Type these in and see what ya get! Evinrude Control Box, Johnson Outboard Control Box or just OMC Control Box, when I was looking for mine their was plenty of them! They had some nice looking clean powershift 2 boxes and command center boxes you might like, check em out!