Outboard Switch Over

[SkunkedAgain]

I tried to look through the replies but didn't see it mentioned exactly. Please forgive me if it's there and I missed it. What year is your Johnson? I have a control unit from a '76. I does not have tilt control and it may need one new shift/throttle cable. I'm thinking $50. I've been told, and found it to be somewhat true that all red plugs are compatible (I used the 84 controls from my boat on my 76 motor), I'm not sure what year they stopped the red plug ('93?). I'm in Tooele but work in Salt Lake and can meet you if you're interested.

I picked up the new motor, it's a 93 and does have the red plug.  I haven't had a chance to look it over much yet, but maybe this afternoon I'll start to look things over.  I do want to have the trim controls, but as I get into this, I may hit you up on your offer.  Thanks so much for replying.. Jeff

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Can't help you there. Mercury has an option called Vessel View Mobile that plugs into the motor wiring and links by Bluetooth to a phone or tablet and shows all motor data (and a lot more). Dunno nuttin bout no Johnson.

Thanks Rocky.... How are you liking your new machine after the Willard trip?  Hope it's treating you very well... Later Jeff

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My motor info gets to my fish finder via a NEMA 2000 backbone, it’s not a cheap option
(Cables and connectors)and I wouldn’t of put it in except for the radar and other stuff I needed for running in the ocean so the motor info was a bonus

Thanks Alan, so all the weather and motor stuff are all over the NEMA 2000 backbone... Good to know and probably not very practical for a non-bigwater rig...  I was just wondering if it was just a wire I had to hook up to the finder, but sounds a lot more involved, probably wouldn't use it much anyway, since I need the screens for importanter stuff like where the fish are... Thanks for the info... Jeff

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I rewired a 1975 115 Merc a couple of years ago- $235 and 2 hrs of my time. If I can do it anyone can. I have a brother who is a guide on Lake Eire he says the mechanics there say you will find parts for your rude/john until you die. I wish I could help on your question but there are forums out there that could answer your question.

I think I was just done with that motor, it had a habit of not working when I needed it to and when Lee's said the motor needed new wires and the electronic ignition should be replaced and etc. etc... (which probably wasn't true because the engine still ran) anyway I was just done with it, so I sold it cheap and cut my losses...

I did find a youtube video on rewiring the older (Pre 96) Johnson motors to the newer controls... I think it doesn't look too bad, but I need to see what I'm up against when I get the motor... not sure how many wires are there to work with...  Here's another question, My Humminbird fish finder has a screen that has all the boat gages and controls on it.  What do you have to do, to get your motor to talk to your fish finder?  Is it difficult to hook the two units together while I'm already having to rewire the harness?  I'm thinking it is possible, but I need to know what you need to have to connect to the fish finder... is this a time to find a good boat forum too?  Thanks Jeff

It may also be possible to hook it up with the NEMA 0813 which is all low voltage cable, the 2 extra wires that come out of your fish finder power cord that nobody typically uses is the 0813 cables. You would need to check in your fish finder manual to see what system they are using for the “gauges”. 0813 uses limited codes in sentences and some time won’t read what is coming from the motor or other devices on the boat and can be manufacture specific hence the move to NEMA 2000. Motor age could be an issue also to tie into the FF as it may be strictly analog out put to a typical gauge. Let me know if you need a hand putting any of it together Jeff

Hey Alan, the finder is the NEMA 2000 system, and I'll just use the gage in the boat for the tach, that's really the only one I rely on much, since my boat is too old to have temp gages and other important stuff...  If I get stuck on the install, I may hit you up for a little help hooking up wires... Thanks Jeff  PS... I think this motor should make my boat much more capable for the catfish runs... will have to trade cat trips for koke trips this summer...