Shipmaster/Simplex Controls

jay_merrill

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I often see comments about the older OMC control boxes that lead me to believe that there is a lot of misunderstanding about them. In order to help iboats members understand these units, I decided to dig out some of mine and take pictures of them, showing the controls and their key features.

Just because of time issues, I'll do this in installments, revising this thread as I go.


Shipmaster/Simplex Controls

The first thing to know, is that the Johnson version of these control units was named "Shipmaster" and the Evinrude version was named "Simplex." As with OMC products in general during that time period, there is very little difference between the two. In fact, the differences are limited to paint color and badging.

There were also three basic versions of these units. The first was somewhat smaller in size and had rounded shoulders on the control casing. The later units were larger, had square shoulders and came in two types, one of which took the older, Type 400 cables (as did the original units), while the other used Type 479 cables. The type 479 cables and associated control units were made available in 1979.



Original, Type 400 Control Box


OldShipmaster6.jpg


This photo shows the control unit as it appears when assembled. This particular one happens to be a Johnson Shipmaster. I don't know the actual production span, but I believe it was from the fifties to the early sixties. If anyone can update me on this info, please do so.




OldShipmaster1.jpg


In this photo, the box has been opened and the outer half is placed to the right. This the half that holds the gear shift handle, while the other half (left) holds the throttle lever. The black piece is a spacer that separates the halves.




OldSHipmaster4.jpg



OldShipmaster3.jpg


These two photos provide a closer look at the control box halves and the levers. The upper photo is the outer, gearshift side and the lower photo is the inner, throttle side. Note the geared ends on the levers, which differs from the later, square shoulder models.




OldShipmaster2.jpg


In this photo, the plastic end fittings that are inserted into the control box are shown. They are mounted on Type 400 cables, via allen head set screws. You can not see the set screws in the photo, because when tightened, they are recessed into the plastic piece.




OldShipmaster7.jpg


In this final photo, the engine end of the cables can be seen. One cable end has a set screw mounted fitting (throttle side) and the other shows the bare wire, with the gearshift end fitting removed. Those with sharp eyes and knowlege of the cables, may notice that the ones in my photo have thicker casings than the Type 400 cables now available.



ignore any references to Part 2 and Part 3. The three threads have been combined as a single resource. It works better this way.

???
 
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jay_merrill

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Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

The forum server will only allow me to post 6 photos at a time, so I'll have to do my thread on the differences between the various Johnson Shipmaster and Evinrude Simplex remote control boxes, in stages. Here is Part 2.


Type 400 Square Shoulder Control Box


400Simplex1.jpg


This is a double Evinrude control box that I made out of two single boxes. Its actually a "JohnnyRude," because half of it was a Johnson assembly. The paint color is not stock - I painted it with some generic blue spray paint to cover up the green Johnson parts.




400Simplex2.jpg


This photo shows the internal throttle control parts, with the Type 400 cables. There are several parts to pay particular attention to. First is the is the casing guide with the set screws. If you look closely, you can see the bare wire end sticking out (left) of the casing guide. Also note the casing guide insert in the throttle hand. This part is smaller than the one used in the later, Type 479 controls. Because of this, hole in the throttle handle is also smaller. The main point here, is that even though the rest of the box is the same, you can not use a Type 479 throttle handle, casing guide insert and casing guide, on a Type 400 cable.




400Simplex3.jpg


Here's a photo of the gearshift side of the box. Note the same items in regard to the casing guide, the casing guide insert and the gearshift handle.




400Simplex4.jpg


This photo shows the motor end of the Type 400 cables. The gearshift cable end is still installed and the throttle end fitting is missing, showing the bare wire onto which the fitting is installed. Note the set screw on the gearshift end fitting. The throttle end fitting is similar, but has a gate, which closes over the throttle lever on the motor.




479Cables1.jpg


This photo shows a pair of Type 479 cables, with press fit ends. The "bare ends" are the ones that go into the control box. As you can see, the pressed on fittings with holes in them, must be inserted into the casing guides in the control box that goes with these cables. Obviously, these ends are bigger and are anchored in the casing guide differently. This is the reason for a different guide and larger casing guide inserts.

As you can also see, the engine end of the Type 479 cables looks almost identical to the the Type 400 ends. The difference in that they are press fit and do not come off, as the Type 400 do. The most important point here, is that it isn't the engine end of the cables that is most important, its the control box end. If you have a Type 400 box, you need Type 400 cables and if you have a Type 479 box, you need Type 479 cables.

Either system will work on both pre & post '79 motors. They will also work with motors that do not require the gearshift pin and the throttle lever gate - these items can be removed on either a type 400 cable or a Type 479 cable. In fact, if you buy new Type 479 cables and don't order these parts too, they usually will not be included with the cables.


Next Installment

I found a Type 479 control box that I have, but haven't located the casing guides and casing guide inserts yet. LOL - guess its time to do some shop cleanup, so that I can find them! I'll make the next installment, as soon as I locate the parts.



???
 

MudLake

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

I have the type 400 solution which is two levers for throttle and two levers for shift as i run two 20 johnsons.
In picture number 2 I see the core wire protruding from the plastic housing. According the my manual the core wire is the be flush.

cheers
 

MudLake

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

I have the type 400 solution which is two levers for throttle and two levers for shift as i run two 20 johnsons.
In picture number 2 I see the core wire protruding from the plastic housing. According the my manual the core wire is the be flush.

cheers
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

i was taught to do as the picture. most of the ones i take apart are done that way.
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

i was taught to do as the picture. most of the ones i take apart are done that way.
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

That's an interesting point and I'll look forward to comments on it, especially from the guys who were "wenching" on OMC systems professionally, during that era.

PS: I realized after wrting this, that I might have sounded like I am minimzing the information concerning a flush fit. Not at all, because if it comes from an OMC manual, the info obviously has merit.



???
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

That's an interesting point and I'll look forward to comments on it, especially from the guys who were "wenching" on OMC systems professionally, during that era.

PS: I realized after wrting this, that I might have sounded like I am minimzing the information concerning a flush fit. Not at all, because if it comes from an OMC manual, the info obviously has merit.



???
 

jay_merrill

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Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

In the last two installments, I went over the early Johnson Shipmaster and Evinrude Simplex controls, as well as the first version of the "square shoulder" Shipmaster and Simplex versions. Both of these models use Type 400 cables, with end fittings that are fastened by set screws. The information below covers the 1979 and newer models, which make use of Type 479 cables and have some significant differences from the older boxes.



Type 479 Square Shoulder Control Box

Type479-1.jpg


This photo shows the throttle half of the control. Note the difference in how the cable is secured in the casing guide (counter sunk machine screw v. set screws) and the size of the casing guide insert.




Type479-2.jpg


Here's the shift side of the unit. Note the same arrangement for cable installation. Also note that in this photo and the one above it, that I have only parially reassembled the control unit. I did not reinstall the throttle friction mechanism and other items, because they are not needed to show the differences in the Type 400 and Type 479 arrangements.




Type479-4.jpg


In this photo, you can see the back side of the casing guide, with the recessed stainless steel nut that secures the machine screw.




Type479-5.jpg


This photo shows the casing guide from the cable insertion end. Note the slot that allows the press fit cable end to be inserted into the guide.





Type479-6.jpg


I took this photo to show the size of the cable trunion. Although its hard to see that it is larger in a stand-alone photo, when compared to the trunion on a Type 400 cable, it is clearly larger.





400Simplex3.jpg


Here, I've gone back to the Type 400 control, just to re-emphasize the differences in the two versions. Note the set screws in the casing guide and the smaller casing guide insert.



Summary

The key to choosing cable types (400 or 479) for these control units, is in knowing which control type you have. Further, I often see comments suggesting cable type based on the model year of a given outboard, but as can be seen in my posts, this is not the determining factor. Just because you have an engine of a particular year, doesn't mean that cable manufactured in the same year, will work with whatever control unit you have.

I have concentrated my efforts here on the Shipmaster and Simplex controls, simply because that is where the confusion seems to exist the most. There are other controls, however, in which such confusion could lead to buying the wrong cable type. As such, my advice is to look closely at the cables you already have. If they have set screws and removable end fittings, they are Type 400 cables. If the end fittings are press fit and are not removable, they are Type 479 cables. Replace accordingly.



???
 

tmcalavy

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Hey Jay, hats off to you brother for posting this thread...it should help many folks on the forum.
 

tmcalavy

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Hey Jay, hats off to you brother for posting this thread...it should help many folks on the forum.
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

YW to all - been meaning to do it for awhile, but had to find everything first. It was partially inspired, timing-wise at least, by a need to clean my shop up to fit another motor ('73 85hp Johnny Rude) that I picked up. Just what I need, huh? Another dang motor!

Hmmmmmmmmm .... I wonder what an 85hp JohnnyRude and a couple of '72 Johnson 65hp motors would look like on the back of my T-Bird Cuddy! :D


PS: If any of the Mods want to turn these threads (3) into stickys, feel free to do so!



???
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

YW to all - been meaning to do it for awhile, but had to find everything first. It was partially inspired, timing-wise at least, by a need to clean my shop up to fit another motor ('73 85hp Johnny Rude) that I picked up. Just what I need, huh? Another dang motor!

Hmmmmmmmmm .... I wonder what an 85hp JohnnyRude and a couple of '72 Johnson 65hp motors would look like on the back of my T-Bird Cuddy! :D


PS: If any of the Mods want to turn these threads (3) into stickys, feel free to do so!



???
 

tmcalavy

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Go for it...and take lots of pix.
 

tmcalavy

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Go for it...and take lots of pix.
 

ussottawa

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Great info. Best on web for my search. Have 1978 Johnson with Shipmaster box. Thanks. Additional info I've found: Trunion hole in box measures 9/16 in. Trunion 1/2 in. Plastic trunion cap, a bushing type insert for each end of trunion, is part number 038055 and sell for about $3 each. These are for the 400 series cables which have a cylindrical type trunion. There is a Evinrude/Johnson schematic diagram out there which shows a throttle cable with a spherical trunion taking a cap of a semi-spherical nature (Part No. 0308055) - have never seen this type of cable. From what I've seen, replacement 400 cables have cylindrical trunions for both throttle and gear shift, and use the first cap mentioned above. Installed mine and work just fine.
 

ussottawa

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 2

Great info. Best on web for my search. Have 1978 Johnson with Shipmaster box. Thanks. Additional info I've found: Trunion hole in box measures 9/16 in. Trunion 1/2 in. Plastic trunion cap, a bushing type insert for each end of trunion, is part number 038055 and sell for about $3 each. These are for the 400 series cables which have a cylindrical type trunion. There is a Evinrude/Johnson schematic diagram out there which shows a throttle cable with a spherical trunion taking a cap of a semi-spherical nature (Part No. 0308055) - have never seen this type of cable. From what I've seen, replacement 400 cables have cylindrical trunions for both throttle and gear shift, and use the first cap mentioned above. Installed mine and work just fine.
 

mulemarina

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

I'm a total newbie with Shipmaster controls. I'm more accustomed to electronic throttle control and GPS speed control on my Ski Nautique!
Anyway, I bought an old beater pontoon boat with a 25 hp Johnson and shipmaster controls. I cannot advance the throttle (above idle) with the shifter in neutral. Is that the way it's supposed to be?
I need to give the engine some gas to get it started and warmed up.
Thanks for any help.
 

mulemarina

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

I'm a total newbie with Shipmaster controls. I'm more accustomed to electronic throttle control and GPS speed control on my Ski Nautique!
Anyway, I bought an old beater pontoon boat with a 25 hp Johnson and shipmaster controls. I cannot advance the throttle (above idle) with the shifter in neutral. Is that the way it's supposed to be?
I need to give the engine some gas to get it started and warmed up.
Thanks for any help.
 

Chinewalker

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Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Re: Shipmaster/Simplex Controls - Part 3

Yes, that is normal as there is a stop on the motor to prevent over revving the motor in neutral.

In the future, it is better to start your own thread than to dig up a year-old one...
 
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