Mercruiser mercontrol "all in one" style shifter

[Svsv]

Hi all, I have 1971 Sea Camper with the above mentioned shifter. It has a little round black button at the pivot point and nothing else. When I push the botton it allows the lever to move, and allows me to throttle the engine. But no shifting. It could be broken, or maybe there's a trick to it. It appears to be designed so it does both throttle and shift simultaneously. So I have two issues:

1) how do I get it to engage the shift function (no it doesn't slide out when button is pushed)

2) once I get that part figured out,/fixed, I will have a shifter that shifts into gear and throttles the engine at same time. So then how do I just give it gas in neutral at cold start up?

I'm hoping someone out there has this exact same shifter and knows.......thanks!

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Mercruiser mercontrol "all in one" style shifter

When you push the button in that allows you to give it gas in neutral for cold and warm starts.
When you return the lever to center the button should pop out.
With the button popped out moving the lever forward puts the drive in forward and allows you to increase speed.
Same with reverse.

Oh, and welcome.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Mercruiser mercontrol "all in one" style shifter

I haven't used the old MerControl from my 72 Mercruiser 140 HP for several years, but seem to remember that I had to pull the handle straight out (towards port) then push forward to get it into neutral for cold starting. Once the handle was returned to center it would pop back inward and you could shift into forward gear, or reverse gear.

 

[Svsv]

Re: Mercruiser mercontrol "all in one" style shifter

When you push the button in that allows you to give it gas in neutral for cold and warm starts.
When you return the lever to center the button should pop out.
With the button popped out moving the lever forward puts the drive in forward and allows you to increase speed.
Same with reverse.

Oh, and welcome.

YES! Thats it! The lever wasn't moving without button pushed, then moved freely. So i htought it was locked unless the button was pushed. But it must've just been a little seized, and I didn't ever force it - thinking it was locked anyway. Moves with and without button pushed now. Thanks!!!

 

[searay423]

Re: Mercruiser mercontrol "all in one" style shifter

This really isn't a question concerning but more of a how do you remove this shifter. I bought a 1980 webbcraft boat that has this shifter on it and its the last thing holding the panel on. Anyone have a clue on how to remove it?