Control box compatibility?

[amuller]

Just talking about mechanical shifts here, and disregarding electrical questions:

Can an OMC control box be used to control a Mercury motor and vice-versa? How about Scott, or the Homelite I’m slowly putting together, or some of the Japanese makes? Meaning, of course, is the stroke the same or close enough, is the direction of movement for a certain result the same, and so forth.

Kind of wondering specifically what would work with the Homelite/Bearcat.

Thanks for any guidance.

am

[dave-bernard]

mercury and OMC work backwards on the throttle I think.

[frankr]

quote Dave Bernard:

mercury and OMC work backwards on the throttle I think.

Yep, and the cable ends are different anyway.

If I remember correctly, Homelite used Morse Controls with 33C cables.

[frankr]

Consider a Chrysler Control (by Morse). Throttle is universal (push-to-open or pull-to-open) by changing the lever to point fore or aft at idle.
Shift can likewise be reversed.

[amuller]

Does that mean that a Chrysler control would be a good basis for rigging a Homelite?

[frankr]

quote amuller:

Does that mean that a Chrysler control would be a good basis for rigging a Homelite?

That is what I’m suggesting off the top of my head. But understand, I’ve never rigged a Homelite, so there might be a gotcha.

[amuller]

Thanks! A Chrysler control box should be easy enough to find.

[amuller]

So I found this Morse item in my rathole. It seems to work smoothly and maybe be more solidly built that the typical outboard control box. More like traditional inboard controls. But what exactly do I have? Is it a side mount missing the housing, or? And what do the two buttons do?

[dave-bernard]

panel mount one button is for fast idle.

[frankr]

What you have there is a typical Morse control, this one for concealed side mount. When installed in the boat only the black housing and handle are visible. It is fairly universal by changing the position of the two inside levers.

With it in neutral position, pull out the big button. That disengages the shift so you can give it some throttle for starting. Push the button back in and shift function is restored.

The other button? Either I don’t know or I’ve forgotten.

I’m trying to remember who came first with single lever controls. Merc or Morse?? But it was close.

[Author]

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