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Morse MT3 controls for 1987 Mercury 115hp Tower of Power
I am considering adding a Morse MT3 control for my 1975 Newport, does anyone know what else I will need to connect to my 1987 Mercury 115hp ELPTO Tower of Power, I do know I need a power trim switch, but unclear on ignition switch or harness.
The MT3 is strictly a manual throttle/transmission control. The only electrical aspect is the neutral safety starting switch. I have used the same control original to my boat with a 1974 Mercury 850 and subsequently with a 2005 115 Mercury. The 850 sets up similar to your prospective motor. You will need a key switch, choke control and a control switch for the tilt. Teleflex cables work just fine with the MT3.
dontate wrote:
The MT3 is strictly a manual throttle/transmission control. The only electrical aspect is the neutral safety starting switch. I have used the same control original to my boat with a 1974 Mercury 850 and subsequently with a 2005 115 Mercury. The 850 sets up similar to your prospective motor. You will need a key switch, choke control and a control switch for the tilt. Teleflex cables work just fine with the MT3.
I am familiar with both the Merc in-line 6 and the Morse control. First of all, highly recommended, still one of the smoothest and best controls on the market, with it's only minor shortcoming being lack of a trim switch on the handle. Actually, as you will find, it's no big deal.
You will need for a complete installation:
Mercury 8 pin key switch ignition harness, 20' length. This harness includes the blue and green power trim wires, which plug in under the cowl at the engine. This may require a slight modification on the 1988 engine solenoid wiring involving female connectors on the blue and green wires to receive the newer harness plug-ins. If you can't figure this out, any Merc mechanic should be able to help. About 15 minutes of work.
You will need Mercury's separate Power Trim switch panel with harness, which fits into a standard small gauge hole. You can find one using Google search for about $75. This installs near the throttle control on the dash, and plugs into the ignition harness behind the key switch.
For throttle/shift cables, buy (ONLY!) Sea Star XTREME cables, 18' length, with universal ends at the control end, and Mercury specific (Generation 1) fittings at the engine end. They ARE made and available but sometimes difficult to source. If you can't readily secure these, you can also buy the cables with universal fittings at both ends, and buy the Mercury adapter kits for the engine ends. These are super smooth in operation and have made older style cables obsolete.
You should be very happy with this installation. I run a dual Morse MT-3 on my Outrage 25 with twin Merc 200 EFI's, and there is nothing like it. The old 60 year design is still excellent.
Also consider upgrading the original red knob to a slightly larger diameter Ongaro chrome knob with red stripes. About $20, but beautiful, and fits your hand better!
Thanks for the great info, I really enjoy standing while piloting my Newport, unfortunately the modern controls that were installed by a previous owner are so low I'm always hunched over. Of course I also love the look of the Morse and am trying to keep the boat as original as possible.
