Mercury side mount control....

[walleyeaddict]

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to how to replace?? Is it a simple process? I have already had it off but never unhooked the cables or anything. My tilt/trim wires broke internally so I assume i must replace it?? With gas at 3.29 a gallon I would really like to fix it myself if possible. Any insight is greatly appreciated. It is on a 2001 Mercury 125 2 stroke...01 Starcraft 175 if it matters. I believe it is a pretty universal part. Part number Msc4000 827270A49

[Valv]

Are you looking to replace just the handle or the whole unit ?

If you have to replace the handle you will have to open the remote box BE CAREFUL, there's lots of small greasy parts in there and if you don't put it back together correctly you'll be SOL.

If you need to replace it it's not a bad job, take control off boat, on back there's a small panel you can open, that's where the cables get connected to.

You will have to disconnect the main electrical harness from motor and route it back inside boat so you can replace the new unit.

[marine_man]

Valv is right on... replacing the side control box is one thing... the most difficult part will be re-routing the electrical harness to your motor - not becuase it's difficult, just time consuming.

If you're going to try and replace the switch only take it very slow and methodically, and probably take pictures of everything as you disassemble in case you run into problems later. It's not impossible, but very slow, tedious work to keep everything working.

Good luck!

marine_man

[Sandmannd]

I've done the key switch out before and it wasn't that hard. Like said above, take your time and make sure you know how it goes back together and your fine. Takes some time, but very doable.

[walleyeaddict]

Can I replace just the handle?? The wire broke right where the main housing meets the handle. Also dont undrstand what ur sayin about the harness? Wont it unplug in the back of the housing???

[boatfixer]

Is this a flush mount(you can see only the handle) or can you see the whole box?

[Valv]

 Originally Posted By: boatfixer

Is this a flush mount(you can see only the handle) or can you see the whole box?

That was going to be my next question.

If it's a flush mount it will be somewhat easier.

[marine_man]

I believe you can replace the whole handle if you want. It looks like it's for a flush mount control box, so that should make replacing the handle a little easier...

Since this is a flush mount control box, the only wires you'll need to disconnect / reconnect will be the tilt & trim wires, and if you replace the entire control box you'll have to reconnect the kill switch wires.

Sorry for the reversal on the harness - I didn't realize it was a flush mount control box.

marine_man

[boatfixer]

If it is a flush mount, carefully remove the plastic trim pieces on the side of the box. Shift into forward full throttle leave in that position. From the aft side, look at the bottom of the handle. You should see a slot. Inside the slot is a allen-head set screw. Loosen the set screw to remove the handle. The 3 wires you will see running throught the control itself are red(power) blue(up) green(down) (blue sky, green grass-something to remember for all trim wires). You probably cant pull the wires through with the connecters still on. One thing I have done before is to disconnect the battery, and clip the wires behind the side panel, leaving plenty to still work with, and re-solder them ( I am a big fan of solder). Reverse the process.

Now all I have described depends on the access you have to the back of the control box depending on the side panel of the boat. Not all boats are made the same way.

If you can, post some pictures of your set up.

[walleyeaddict]

it is flush guys sorry. But i am stumped again. removed allen screw like u said but handle wont come off??? Thanks for all the info guys.

[walleyeaddict]

VALV...MARINEMAN...BOATFIXER....SANDMAN...THANK YOU!! Project complete and I owe it all to you guys! Ended up losing the set screw...what is its function anyway? Seems the nut under the high idle control button holds it on as this is what I had to remove to get it off. Will it work fine without the set allen? If not could someone tell me what size and length that would be? It just dissappeared!Once I got it all apart i was able to splice the wires up higher in the control. Again thanks guys I owe u! That would have cost 350 plus at a shop! I think with the money I saved I will make a trip to pool 4!! Any thoughts on the allen set screw?? Anything I can ever do for u guys let me know!

[boatfixer]

Sorry I forgot about the other screw . As far as the set screw goes, I would want it in there. It obviously plays an important part in securing the handle, possibly the last line of defense should the center screw come out. Imagine that handle coming off while cruising across the lake, or coming into an area where swimmers or children are present. Not a boat I would want to be in. I dont know the size off hand, but I would make sure that what ever size it is it's stainless steel. Might just be easier to order one from a dealer.

[walleyeaddict]

!@#$%^&*(())&*^$# Is how i feel right now! Just put batteries in the boat...and after all that it still doesnt work... any thoughts??? My guess is switch must have fried when wires broke?? And yes boat fixer I agree I will get a set screw!!

[boatfixer]

Does everything else seem to work? does the motor turn over?

[Minnesota Fats]

Battery dead?

[walleyeaddict]

no only the tilt doesnt work. Gotta make a parts run tomorrow...thanks to all who helped.

[marine_man]

Set Screw:

I agree with boatfixer - I'd want it in there - I'd really hate to be running at WOT when the handle works its way off...

On the wires... let's start back at the beginning here.

How do you know the wires on the control box are shot? Is the trim & tilt working on the motor's switch? Is there another trim & tilt switch in the boat (maybe up by the bow)? Is that one working? If you strip back the wires that you connected your control box to and you touch the red wire to the green wire does the motor go down? If you touch the red wire to the blue wire does the motor go up?

Just trying to make sure you're troubleshooting the right area.

marine_man

[walleyeaddict]

marine man...yes there is another switch on the motor and the bow. They both work. I new the wire broke because behind the handle I could see where it was catching...and eventually broke. Havent tried touchin the wires together but will when the weather improves. Sure it is the switch because when I reconnected the wires it still did not work. I now need a whole new "handle" including set screw and high idle button. I also broke the !@#$ killswitch! All in all a learnig experience!!!

[marine_man]

I would check the wires running to the motor (that you're going to connect the trim & tilt wires from the handle) to see if you can raise and lower the motor - so, you put the new switch in and it still doesn't work, or the new switch is bad too?

marine_man

[walleyeaddict]

Havent got the new switch yet gonna try to get it in the morning. Also gonna check the wire theroy tonight.

[walleyeaddict]

Ok guys got all the parts and got it all put back together...wwwooooooohhhooooooo!! Everything works but throttle handle seems harder to push. Any thoughts on the cause?? Worked great before taking it apart to replace tilt and kill switch!

[marine_man]

There's a friction control knob on the backside (you'll probably have to take the panel off again to find it) that adjusts the friction.

It's possible it needs to be backed off a bit.

Here's a little more info:

Glad to hear you got it figure out!

marine_man

[walleyeaddict]

Thanks marine man. Almost...lol!

[Fredd]

marine man, do the yamaha controls have the same friction plate/knob on the backside or is it accessible elsewhere?? Mine wants to creep down a bit when running near open throttle.

[marine_man]

What style control box do you have? One where you can see the cables going into the box, or one where you cannot?

marine_man