How do I disconnect the controls to a 15hp outboard???????

[Lukey]

My Mate from my cricket club has just bought a shetland boat and doesn't know a thing about them ( rather rash purchase ), he wants to take the engine off the back and asked me to help him, well I thought yeah that will be a piece of p1ss.

Now starting to wonder what will be involved, hydraulics ? specialist tools ? I said it should take more than 20 minutes to get it off.

Have I just set myself up for a fall or is it easy, I just tried searching for pics or any info as to how to do it but came up blank.

Help !

[Tim M]

It is a 20 minute job. It's basically like this:

Disconnect each of the two control cables. Worth putting a bit of tape on the end of each one to remember which is throttle and which is gears to save time later. These will either be held on with a locking nut in which case use a spanner, or a little clip thing which you can undo with your finger.

Then you need to disconnect the two battery cables. Isolate/disconnect the battery first! They will be held on with a nut each, again a simple job with a spanner.

If it's an electric start engine there will be an electrics cable. This will have a big plug/socket somewhere under the hood which should disconnect in some way; it differs from engine to engine. Some just pull apart, others you have to twist something.

Then under the drag link (steering bar) from the steering bar that comes out of the steering tube (that will go through the engine). You'll need either a big spanner/mole grips/adjustable spanner to under the nut that holds the steering cable inside the tube on the engine. Once you get that off you're pretty much there. Get the steering cable out of the engine by pulling it (if your lucky). If it gets stuck try twisting it by putting a screwdriver in the hole where the drag link went. Twist a tiny bit each way - that may break the seal. If not tap with a hammer. If all else fails and its properly stuck in there get the angle grinder out and buy a new cable!

It really is a simple job.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Tim M

... there will be an electrics cable. This will have a big plug/socket somewhere under the hood which should disconnect in some way; it differs from engine to engine. Some just pull apart, others you have to twist something.

depending on the engine the connector may be outside the engine somewhere between the engine and controls - mine is (before you spend hours looking inside the hood).

[Lukey]

Originally Posted by Tim M

It is a 20 minute job. It's basically like this:

Disconnect each of the two control cables. Worth putting a bit of tape on the end of each one to remember which is throttle and which is gears to save time later. These will either be held on with a locking nut in which case use a spanner, or a little clip thing which you can undo with your finger.

Then you need to disconnect the two battery cables. Isolate/disconnect the battery first! They will be held on with a nut each, again a simple job with a spanner.

If it's an electric start engine there will be an electrics cable. This will have a big plug/socket somewhere under the hood which should disconnect in some way; it differs from engine to engine. Some just pull apart, others you have to twist something.

Then under the drag link (steering bar) from the steering bar that comes out of the steering tube (that will go through the engine). You'll need either a big spanner/mole grips/adjustable spanner to under the nut that holds the steering cable inside the tube on the engine. Once you get that off you're pretty much there. Get the steering cable out of the engine by pulling it (if your lucky). If it gets stuck try twisting it by putting a screwdriver in the hole where the drag link went. Twist a tiny bit each way - that may break the seal. If not tap with a hammer. If all else fails and its properly stuck in there get the angle grinder out and buy a new cable!

It really is a simple job.

Your a star, I'll try and blag it, doesn't sound too hard at all.

Does anyone know of any online work manuals/ sites that might show a few pics ?

[Tim M]

What make is this engine?

[Aidan]

Give it a slap with a hammer failing that slap it again witha bigger one

Use a Vice Grips with worn teeth and a Hatchet.... actually No! those are the instructions to make sure no one ever gets it off....You can call it the Bobbit fix, get it? No Bobbit doesnt get it any more either

[ian parkes]

depends wether you want to put it back on or not Boltcroppers

[Lukey]

Originally Posted by Tim M

What make is this engine?

It is either a honda four stroke or a yamaha