Questions about controls and cables

[tmcalavy]

Received my Johnson Shipmaster dual outboard control yesterday. Hope to test fit it to the Texas Maid gunwhale today...will order cables soon. First question, is it better to mount the control with the top of the box flush with the top of the gunwhale or mount it down under the gunwhale as I have seen on some boats? Second question, should the controls/outboards be in F,N or R when making the connection at the outboard? How about the throttle connection...should it be at stop/idle or WOT? Third question, I have idle stop and friction adjust screws on the control box, where should they be set initially, and how are they used to fine-tune the controls? Any input is welcome, your wealth of knowledge is always appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Questions about controls and cables

the placement is your preference, what is comfortable in your particular boat. control should be in neutral, and throttle full back. with engine the same. friction setting can be adjusted, the the amount of force you have to use to move the handles. if you like easy or more force. also keeps throttle from backing down, if you turn handle loose. i would set idle stop as far back as possible. and adjust engine end trunion, nut.

if i remember correctly your are going to be using manual start. so you won't have kill switch. then you need to set you cables so the engine will die when the throttle is move all the way back, if you want to idle, just don't pull it all the way back.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Questions about controls and cables

None of the controls on the control box are used to adjust the cables. Start with the controls in neutral and cables connected on the box end. Back at the engine, push the throttle linkage to the idle stop and make sure the shift lever on the engine is in neutral. Insert the cable anchors (trunions) into the anchors. Bring the end of the throttle cable up to its attachment point on the throttle linkage. If the attachment points don't line up exactly, adjust the trunion so the cable can be attached without pushing or pulling anything. If you need to tug, push or pull the linkage, you are doing it wrong. Then repeat the process for the shift cable. Once everything is connected, test the throttle to make sure it opens fully to the WOT stop. Test the shift cable to make sure the reverse, forward, and neutral engage properly. Do not adjust the cable to make the linkage go further into reverse or forward. Doing so only makes the system not work in the other direction.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Questions about controls and cables

Great advice/info...exactly what I needed to know. Many thanks.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Questions about controls and cables

Hi Tim,
Glad the box arrived alright. I've been following your posts on the dual set-up. Sounds like a cool project! Glad I could help...
- Scott