Old / New Engine swap - right Controls?

[reelfishin]

I am replacing the engine on a boat that originally had an early/mid 70's 35hp Evinrude, with a 1985 Evinrude. The new motor takes the red plug harness, but I don't have the controls for it. Can I make the old twin stick controls work and use a stand alone harness and put the keyswitch and starter button on the dash?
In other words, is the cable throw the same? Will I be able to make the cables fit/work on the newer motor?

If not, which controller would I need for that motor? I have one from a 150HP, but it's huge, was there a smaller controller in those years (80's)?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Old / New Engine swap - right Controls?

i think there the same. but, if you have cable on both units. put then in neutral, then shift to each gear measuring the motor end. same for the throttle cable. with the 2 lever you won't have neutral safety switch,

 

[F_R]

Re: Old / New Engine swap - right Controls?

How do you propose connecting into the red plug? And there's the rest of the wiring and battery cables too. The two lever may work, but remember the correct control contains a start-in-neutral-only switch and a lanyard kill switch and an overheat warning horn, as well as the usual key start switch and choke.

Once you use a single lever control awhile, you probably won't care for the two-lever style anymore. But I suppose that's just personal taste.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Old / New Engine swap - right Controls?

I proposed using the twin lever mainly since it matches the boat and fits in the area alotted better. The choke can be manual, an the key switch, and other wiring can be put on the dash. The motor came with a plain black harness with the red plug, it was run piggy back as a trolling motor on a larger boat.
I am not concerned with the neutral safety switch, most of the motors I have owned in the past never had one anyhow. I like the separate control idea and I like the space it saves. I probably won't even run a key switch, just an on/off switch or lanyard style switch. I have a newer controller but it's huge and would require me to modify the mounting area and I have had that one open to identify the wires, but don't see any overheat horn? The cables that came with the newer control would have to be replaced as they are nearly double the length I need.
The old controller is in nice shape and has new cables on it. I can adapt those to work on the newer motor. The throw of the lever on the old control is a tad bit more each way than that of the newer one. I would think that it would work fine that way. The electrical part isn't much of a concern. I am mostly concerned with how sensitive these are to the cable length and throw.

 

[F_R]

Re: Old / New Engine swap - right Controls?

I could be wrong because I haven't personally put a two-lever on a motor like that, but I really don't believe the throw is any different. You can do some creative routing with the cables of they are too long. One is to go past the motor and make a big loop back to it. It's the back and forth looping that is to be avoided (S-curves) I think your plan is sound. Go for it. Unless somebody here overrules me. But I can take it.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Old / New Engine swap - right Controls?

The cables on the old controller are fine, I just have to make them attach to the newer motor. I have newer cables, but they're at least 12' too long. This boat is only a 15' with a center driving position, where as the newer controller I have came out of a 28' boat with a pilot house. Those cables are real long. If they were only a few feet a creative loop would work. Cables aren't that expensive anyhow, and if it comes down to needing different cables, I'd gladly buy new ones rather than deal with the hassle of making do with old ones. I just think that the smaller sized twin handle controller looks and fits better in the boat. I have newer controllers, but they are just huge looking in a small boat.