Engine/shift controls

[larryeddington]

Has anyone convereted to single controls, in other words throttle and shifter on same binnicle type mount, ergo not haveing two seperate controls at helm?

I am considering it as part of rehab and teleflex makes the equipment.

My biggest concern is. 1. friction and 2. you have to activate a selector type "switch" for flybridge or cabin.

I really like the idea of having controls at one binnacle type mount.

Comments.

[~DarkNemesis~]

Larry I brought this up a while back and I did it. The motor is not in yet but I made the switch. mounted and ready. I had to build a structure to mount to, next to my seat but it was easy. I wont have answers about friction till its all hooked up. I like the feel though. Im making a custom helm dash so having the controls next to my seat is feeling very nice so far

[Big D]

.... you have to activate a selector type "switch" for flybridge or cabin....

I know what you're talking about Larry. Never actually saw one in use yet though. The only red flag I can think of is that it is only switchable from one station (I think), unlike the electronic version that can be switched at either station. Also, can you throttle only (in neutral) from either station? As I recall, the "switching" is for shifting only (that may have changed now). If so, given that you have to mechanically disengage shifting at the station to apply throttle only, and that the throttle sides are hooked directly to the carbs (again, used to be this way), how do you throttle up at one station without disengaging shift at the other? Or do you have to install a lever for selecting station throttle as well?

[Commissionpoint]

Is this the same type of setup Silverton used for many years, or are you talking about something else entirely?

[larryeddington]

First Jeff, you have a single engine, much simpler than a twin.

Commis, not sure what silverton had but simply dual station all in one controls using something like the Morse MT-3 and the DS adapter that Teleflex offers.

I think pulling out on the lever releases it for throttle only and works at both stations. I believe no DS adaptor is needed for throttle side as the throttle slide is a pull only where the shift side is push and pull on the cables.

There is a mechanical switch to determine which control if functional.

What I am trying to achieve is the smoothest non binding action coupled eas of use,

[Commissionpoint]

Ok I gotcha. Yes. I would like to achieve something like the functionality that you describe also. I just haven't spent enough time on that particular project yet to have come up with any solid conclusions about what I should do.

I have a buddy with a 35 Jefferson, and another buddy with a 35 Ocean. Both have big blocks in them so I was going to go look and see what they had going on for controls to try to get some ideas.

[larryeddington]

Commish, i have verified the system is available from Teleflex but as anything else would be great info if someone has used them in a twin configuration.

[Commissionpoint]

I think usually that type of system is more popular in I/O type setups because often you can get trim/tilt kits built right into the dual action levers. Maybe somone around you has a boat that fits the bill (with twins) and you could ask them to check it out a little.

I know I'm not hugely excited by the control situation on the F-32, but right now I am living with it. If you end up coming up with a solution that you like please post about it so we can have a look at what you came up with.

[LandVF36]

See if you can find a Carver Santegro. I think they had the setup you are looking for. here is a link.
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... id=2521711

See if you can get the owner of a Santego to let you take it for a spin. I've tried to teach people how to dock a boat with these controls and they never got the hang of it. The issue is each control has a safety release, either in the lever handle or on the pivot shaft. You just get frustrated and end up using both fwd or both backward and steering in with the wheel.

Same person sitting at the controls of our F36 with "normal" split controls does just fine...

[larryeddington]

Teleflex has a control that I am interested in, built in trim controls which should be able to work on our trim tabs:

CH7800 Top Mount

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/products/ ... 0-control/

With their DS devices one should be able to work all things under one hand, right in my case.

Thoughts or experience with these or MT-3 teleflex?

[Big D]

I have never run into any issues with the MT-3 units. They seem to be a pretty robust unit. There is a bit of a learning curve with this type of design; going a little too far after shifting into gear will increase throttle. In tight quarters, this can be dangerous. The other thing I'm not too crazy about these types of designs is the way you disengage gear for throttle only; you pull the levers out at the pivot point; a two handed operation...a little combersom at times but completely functional. The operation does take a little longer and has possed a bit of a problem under certain conditions such as a poor running engine when you're trying to balance having enough rpm to keep it running yet having to shift in and out of gear. Not something you'll run into regularly when it happens, and it will happen when trying to dock, the separate controls sure make it easier. Just ask stern drive operators who've had this experience. The designs that require pushing in a button at the pivot point are much easier for engaging throttle only. For these reasons, I prefer the separate shift/throttle levers. I suspect you will need to upgrade all your cables to thier premium brand (Extreme?) to minimize drag. In doing so, you may have to change some hardware at existing connection points as well.

[Commissionpoint]

Ok. Once again Big D has me thinking.

First I'd like to just add that I agree totally with what D said about the different types of throttle only advance you can find on dual action control levers. I also much rather the push button type to the pull the whole lever out of its socket type. It definately is more user friendly to have the button type in my experience.

Can we talk a little more about those Teleflex extreme cables Big D mentioned? I was looking long and hard at those as a potential solution for my controls. Does anyone have any experience using them? Are they really super smooth and nice to operate like the manufacturer claims? Does anyone know much about the different number designations of that particular cable? I think there is a 3300 series, a 6400(?) series, and some others. I was thinking the 3300 series might be an analog to the older red 33 series cables, but I don't really know.

The last time I ran cables was on a 1968 13 foot Boston Whaler Super Sport. (Damn, wish I still had that one.) So its been awhile and I am a little out of touch with the modern offerings. Nothing else I've had since that Whaler has been around long enough or been old enough to need cables. Anyone got the str8 dope on the Teleflex 'uber cables'?

Sorry for the partial hijack Larry. I thought though it might help us solve both of our problems if we can get some good feedback from some of the other guys on the whole cable issue.

[larryeddington]

Nope you did not hijack, all of that is good info. I have 2 good sets of throttle controls and one set for trannys. I need another for tranny control on bridge. I have been hunting one that matches the others, most of us have them on our boats and they were made by Teleflex according to Bob. If I stay with the seperate throttle and tranny controls I may wind up with using something close, unless somone on ths site has a tranny one laying around. The throttle is the same unit but does not have the detent balls installed.

Big D kinda made me lean back towards the seperate controls, would be cheaper as well.

[Commissionpoint]

You should be able to find one of those clutch shifter units Larry. They were used in so many things at the time. You are looking for a Morse SR twin top mount unit. Originally a Morse designed unit and now part of the Teleflex group, but they still make it and its still stamped with the Morse logo.

Heres some used on fleabay:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=+MO ... &_osacat=0

I'd go for the lot of 4, take the best two (one for a spare), and resell the other two to mitigate the total out of pocket cost to you. Just an idea, but thats how I'd do it with those choices.

[Big D]

...I need another for tranny control on bridge...The throttle is the same unit but does not have the detent balls installed...

Larry, you should only be using the detents at the lower station controls only. The upper station detents get disengaged otherwise there is too much effort required to move in and out of gear because you'd be operating two detents per side. Pretty sure this would be stated in the installation instructions... you should be able to pull up a manual on line at Teleflex and look up dual station installation, and see if it reffers to detent settings. If you find something, let us know what it says.

Larry, I just found this, it is for the CH5600 series but clearly states not to hook up detents at upper station. Should apply to all units though, it is the way I've been setting them up for years. Click on the CH5600 then check the statement at the bottom right hand corner of page one re the upper helm detents;
http://www.teleflexmarine.com/support-2 ... le-action/