Is my morse control gubbed?

[webcraft]

Teleflex single lever side mount, fitted 2006.

it's been getting increasingly stiff to get into gear. Now the boat has been sitting on the hard for nearly 2 years and it won't go into gear at all. Instead the 'neutral' red button automatically pops in with a loud, hard 'snick' when you reach the normal gear engagement point.

The handle is stuck on the splined shaft as well, so I can't get the cover plate off to undo the screws and remove the unit from the inside of the locker it lives in to have a good look at it.

My gut instinct is to saw the handle off and remove the unit, throw it away and order a new one - but thought I would first see if anyone here had experienced as similar problem /set of problems and solved it ?

- W

 

[Thistle]

Is the problem with the control or with the cable (or even with the gearbox)?

Undo the cable from the lever on the gearbox. Can you move the lever by hand? (You may need to turn the shaft by hand to help the gears to mesh as you go into gear.) With the cable still disconnected at the gearbox, try moving the control lever: does the cable inner move?

 

[webcraft]

Is the problem with the control or with the cable (or even with the gearbox)?

Undo the cable from the lever on the gearbox. Can you move the lever by hand? (You may need to turn the shaft by hand to help the gears to mesh as you go into gear.) With the cable still disconnected at the gearbox, try moving the control lever: does the cable inner move?

Sorry, done all that. Both cables move, the gearbox lever is OK, the problem is definitely in the morse control itself. It operates the throttle all the way, but will only operate the gear cable when the gear cable operating lever is manually pushed with something. When the lever is pushed to the normal position where it should go into gear there is massive resistance then the neutral button pops in and it continues to move the throttle cable.

- W

 

[Charlie Boy]

Webby, do you have any pics? There are different types of cover so it’s hard to know which one.

 

[webcraft]

Webby, do you have any pics? There are different types of cover so it’s hard to know which one.

- W

 

[yotter]

Sorry, done all that. Both cables move, the gearbox lever is OK, the problem is definitely in the morse control itself. It operates the throttle all the way, but will only operate the gear cable when the gear cable operating lever is manually pushed with something. When the lever is pushed to the normal position where it should go into gear there is massive resistance then the neutral button pops in and it continues to move the throttle cable.

- W

Webby,
I had a problem with a stiff mechanism last year so replaced it and all well now. I could not get the handle off, its the Lewmar stainless type, so wanted to retain it. After much mucking about with wedges and levers, I eventually used a wee gas heat gun. I cut a mild steel plate a mill or two thick to plave behind the lever to protect the fiberglass from the heat, got it pretty hot then a combination of levering and hammering got it off.

 

[webcraft]

Webby,
I had a problem with a stiff mechanism last year so replaced it and all well now. I could not get the handle off, its the Lewmar stainless type, so wanted to retain it. After much mucking about with wedges and levers, I eventually used a wee gas heat gun. I cut a mild steel plate a mill or two thick to plave behind the lever to protect the fiberglass from the heat, got it pretty hot then a combination of levering and hammering got it off.

Heat would probably work but the plastic cover will melt. A new unit is only available complete with a new lever, so that is not really an issue with this unit.

- W

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Teleflex single lever side mount, fitted 2006.

it's been getting increasingly stiff to get into gear. Now the boat has been sitting on the hard for nearly 2 years and it won't go into gear at all. Instead the 'neutral' red button automatically pops in with a loud, hard 'snick' when you reach the normal gear engagement point.

The handle is stuck on the splined shaft as well, so I can't get the cover plate off to undo the screws and remove the unit from the inside of the locker it lives in to have a good look at it.

My gut instinct is to saw the handle off and remove the unit, throw it away and order a new one - but thought I would first see if anyone here had experienced as similar problem /set of problems and solved it ?

- W

I am surprised be someone like yourself buying so many problems

 

[michael_w]

Buy a new one. They're die-cast aluminum inside and corrode easily. Smear the new one with lashings of lanocote or similar.

 

[webcraft]

I am surprised be someone like yourself buying so many problems

I beg your pardon? The boat has covered some 18,000 miles since the control was first fitted, in all sorts of weather. The unit was less than £150 and is now 15 years old.

I am surprised by your constant posting of inane comments aimed at me that have nothing to do with my original posts. I will report you to the mods if this harassment continues, so I suggest you go away.

- W

 

[webcraft]

Buy a new one. They're die-cast aluminum inside and corrode easily. Smear the new one with lashings of lanocote or similar.

Thanks Michael, that is the way my thinking is trending. I guess 15 years of hard use is all one can expect from an item like this.

- W

 

[penfold]

They are made of cheese these days so 15 years is possibly not a bad innings.

 

[scottie]

Teleflex single lever side mount, fitted 2006.

it's been getting increasingly stiff to get into gear. Now the boat has been sitting on the hard for nearly 2 years and it won't go into gear at all. Instead the 'neutral' red button automatically pops in with a loud, hard 'snick' when you reach the normal gear engagement point.

The handle is stuck on the splined shaft as well, so I can't get the cover plate off to undo the screws and remove the unit from the inside of the locker it lives in to have a good look at it.

My gut instinct is to saw the handle off and remove the unit, throw it away and order a new one - but thought I would first see if anyone here had experienced as similar problem /set of problems and solved it ?

- W

Yes

 

[webcraft]

.

I've biten the bullet and ordered a new one from Fox's Chandlery, £139 plus delivery.

- W

 

[webcraft]

Yes

Care to expand?

- W

 

[scottie]

You asked whether if with the condition you related was your control beyond economical repair and I answered yes
primarily due to the failure of the main shaft slot now being chamfered
the inability to remove the handle from the spline reinforces the position
it is a familiar story on this widely used control
yes seems the short answer

 

[webcraft]

You asked whether if with the condition you related was your control beyond economical repair and I answered yes
primarily due to the failure of the main shaft slot now being chamfered
the inability to remove the handle from the spline reinforces the position
it is a familiar story on this widely used control
yes seems the short answer

Thanks Scottie.

- W

 

[dgadee]

On my Seawolf, it's nearly 40 years old. Very robust. Just needs grease every now and again. A stuck handle took some easing off but did eventually come without damage.

 

[capnsensible]

Heat would probably work but the plastic cover will melt. A new unit is only available complete with a new lever, so that is not really an issue with this unit.

- W

Replaced quite a few. You can spend ages doing the PBO make one out of a squeezy bottle and some sticky backed plastic.....or simply get a new one that will last for years. ?

 

[zoidberg]

"gubbed....."

That's a quaint old Weegie expression from my mis-spent youth wa-a-ay back last century. I'm thinking a) the Good Webby hasn't quite got the concept/context right ( his Handbook of Scots Wurds is dated ) and/or b) he's been keeping bad company!

( writted as a native Weegian )