I'm in the process of installing the dual lever Livorsi controls in my 18. Due to the low sideboards of the 18 I had to have a control pod fabricated to mount the controls inboard. I opted for a custom stainless steel pod instead of the fiberglass pods that are readily available. I also had to install remote ignition and kill switches as the old ones were built into the stock Merc control box. This turned out to be a very costly project, but hope it pays dividends in superior throtle control. All of the club boat drivers I'd spoken to using the Livorsi controls seem to rave about them. Bob
Bob, There will probably still be some play in the system at the cable attach points at both ends. the spring(s) will work with that system also if you think you need them. jim
Bob If you can post some pictures showing the installation when you were done that would be great. Maybe it will motivate me to do the same thing. I'll be interested to know how it works out. Best, Markbano
Her are a few pictures of the recent modifications I made to my 18. I replaced the stock Mercury controls with the dual lever Livorsi unit and had a custom stainless steel mirror bracket fabricated with a little more height than my old one. (Hopefully now I don't have to bend over to see out of it.) Due to the low sides on an 18 footer, I had to have a control pod built to put the Livorsi controls inside the boat. I again opted for a stainless steel unit fabricated by Dwayne Snow of Janesville Wisconsin. When I had Livorsi build the contols I asked for the throtle to be on the inside and the shift controls to be out. I had the throtle lever canted backwards and the shift lever canted forward for ease of use. After the stainless mirror mount and control pod were built I spent many/many hours on my Baldor buffer polishing them to a mirror like luster. I believe the results were well worth the efforts.
Nice, I always love the chrome look. Livorsi makes great stuff, I used them for all my gauges. Looks good bob my hats off to you. Daniel
OK Guys, Here are some pics of my attempt to reduce throttle play in my '05 150 Optimax. The results were mixed, some of the play was taken out but the idle rpm's remained inconsistent. I think I will need bigger springs and and use them directly off of the control cables instead of connecting them to the throttle arms as I did. Jim, Am I anywhere close to doing what you suggested? Thanks, Kevin
I am at a disadvantage because I have never worked on that engine, and my Mercury guru is up at Jasper TN at the national outboard drag races. I think you are on the wrong track if you are hooked to the throttle linkage on the motor. Your springs appear to be counteracting each other. A spring should be hooked up to the linkage where the throttle cable attaches to the motor linkage. The idea is to take out the slack in the cable and it's attachment to the linkage. On the non-optimax 2.5 Merc there is a large bellcrank on the port side of the motor. The cable attaches to the bottom of it and the spark advance linkage is controlled of the top. On that motor, the spring would go from the bottom of that bellcrank to the port side cylinder head area. The throttle control (at the front of the boat) may have play in the mechanism too. A spring may be required internally there too. A Yamaha throttle control would probably help that. Do a search on this site for Yamaha throttle. I think the number is 6x0 or 6x3. jim
Here is what I am talking about. I have never used it, but it has a very good reputation: http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=yamaha ... &_osacat=0 You would need the wiring harness that goes up to a dash mounted ignition switch. I don't know if that comes with the throttle set up or not. Buy a new one if possible. jim
