Stuck on what to do with mercruiser controls

[matt167]

my ‘71 SC offshore has an old white Mer-Control like what the outboards came with hooked to the 120hp Mercruiser with the old on dash trim controls. I want to put more modern controls on it as they are worn and kinda floppy. I have a square 80s style in the 1986 donor boat I have, which would involve cutting out the panel. It also does not lock in neutral anymore after I tore part of the interior panel it was attached to out of the donor boat, so something is out of wack.

Is there a template i can use to make the hole? Or should I get another surface mount box like this NOS one? https://www.ebay.com/itm/163880590381

I’m getting married soon and I’ve got the all clear to do work to the boat. But I don’t want to push that too much if a lot of costs are involved

 

[matt167]

This is the exact set of controls I have in the donor boat https://www.ebay.com/itm/1156070798...wpU1egt0KXr1-k_yJ7LANaG0EoapdyugaAqHjEALw_wcB

 

[04fxdwgi25]

mercury service manual 90-814705R03

Merc Controls Newest Manual | PDF | Electrical Connector | Switch

Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.

www.scribd.com

Shows the repair / maintenance on older ones too.

I have the PDF version, but it's big at 25 meg and won't upload to here.

 

[matt167]

Thanks I’ll have to see what’s up with the donor controls

 

[matt167]

Just curious if this control that is listed as a TR II controller will work? https://www.ebay.com/itm/163880590381

I looked at my dads boat which is another Offshore V18 and it has the same surface mount controller like what this one is so I’d like to go for it if it will work

 

[04fxdwgi25]

That's a rare find to find one that old as new. But, still old style and parts are a question. Due to it's size and design, your boat should have a safety cut off switch / lanyard. The newer style has them built in. That one, does not.

Unless you have a strong desire for that exact one, ther are many new style ones out there, in that price range.

 

[matt167]

Well, it’s a 1971 boat, so as equipped it is exempt from the lanyard law, and the 1986 donor boat also does not have one. Not saying I wouldn’t use a lanyard of course. The problem is, Mercruiser has used flush mount controls now exclusively for years, so I can’t find a new replacement surface mount control really set up for mercruiser. There are also a boatload of fakes kicking around. A real Mercury controller is $400+ and the fakes are under $200

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Understood. The older boats are not required to upgrade, but smaller open cockpit boats surely would benefit from one, for safety reasons.

Was only a suggestion.

 

[matt167]

Understood. The older boats are not required to upgrade, but smaller open cockpit boats surely would benefit from one, for safety reasons.

Was only a suggestion.

Make no mistake. I would use a lanyard if it had one. I could even add one somehow. I’m just trying to find the ‘right’ modern control that I’m not sure actually exists. I can make a new one work for sure by omitting the key switch and rewiring a little, which is basically what mercury did with the old controller that’s in it. But there is no trim control on that controller.

 

[matt167]

I had a suspicion and was able to verify that those controls listed as TRS will not work with an alpha. So pretty much need to cut the interior panel. Is there a cutout diagram available? https://www.ebay.com/itm/1156070798...wpU1egt0KXr1-k_yJ7LANaG0EoapdyugaAqHjEALw_wcB

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Here is the manual for the one you ref'd at ebay. The Commander Classic.

Don't see a cut out template for it.

 

[matt167]

Thank you. That will help figure out why the one I have doesn’t lock in neutral. The panel it’s attached to on the donor boat is rotted and has some flex. It did used to lock.

Would the cutout for a new control be the same? I can find that template. I could possibly use the original panel from the donor boat but it’s rotted bad.. obviously using the control I have saves me $2-300

 

[matt167]

I’ve just decided to keep the control the way it is and use the old dash trim switches. I can put new bushings in it if I need to. Possibly paint it black and put the black decals on it