Johnson PO 15 Tiller Length

[Mumbles]

What’s the difference in length between the long and short PO 15 tiller handles?

[jerry-ahrens]

The longer handle measures 28 inches vs the short one at 11 inches. This is from the center of the pivot point to the end of the tiller. I prefer the longer handle much more over the short one. The shorter handle exhibits much more steering torque.

[Mumbles]

Thanks for that info Jerry!

Yeah, 11" does seem kind of short so if I do shorten my long one, I’ll do it so it fits the boat and me comfortably. Somewhere in between.

[ftruntz]

Mumbles;

Unless you absolutely must…..absolutely must!!! Don’t shorten the long handle! The PO is a torquer and the long handle makes for safer
more enjoyable handling. My first motor was a PO when I joined the club. I still have it and have run many hours with it over the past thirty five years.
My experience, you want/need the long handle. Anyhow my $ .02 worth

[Mumbles]

I’ve heard they can be a handful with the short tiller so I might try it with the long one first when the time comes. The seat in my boat is quite close to the stern so I don’t want to be stretching out to control it. Six inches might be enough.

[kees]

quote FTruntz:

Mumbles;

Unless you absolutely must…..absolutely must!!! Don’t shorten the long handle!

a good tiller, even a short ( normal ) one, is hard to find.
have seen questions about it here on the board, price for a tiller can be more than what you pay for the whole motor. than you can imagine how hard it is to find the longer version
think twice before you use the hacksaw, Jim !
😕

[cajuncook1]

Jim, a thought. Keep your original tiller, but fabricate a new one to the length you want or need. You can keep your PO original for display or sale. Use the fabricated tiller on the motor when you use it for joy riding.

[Mumbles]

They’re all good points guys so I think I’ll abandon this thought for now and leave it until the motor is actually on the boat and ready for a test run. Then I’ll decide.

The tiller is all apart right now and it wouldn’t be hard to lengthen or shorten it. The outer tube is 1 1/8" OD aluminum tube and the inner is 7/8" OD brass tubing. The outer can be machined out of the castings on the ends and replaced. Same for the inner. Now I’m thinking I should make a super long one so I can sit on the center seat!

[Author]

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