Converting an Outboard from remote controls to Tiller??

Mark Vanderhoof

Mark Vanderhoof

Active member
im in the market for an outboard in the 40-60hp range, tiller steer. i want a new one but dont think i can afford a $6,000 motor right now. ive been looking at used motors and am finding some good ones but most of them are remote steer. is it hard to convert a remote steer motor to tiller steer and are the parts for this kind of job common? the motor im looking at is a 2003 honda 50hp. the motor is on a 1986 bluefin 18' semi-v in great condition with trailer and he wants $2750 for the whole rig!! good deal? i think it is. thanks for the help. mark
 
I have an '86 Suzuki DT25 that I converted to a tiller. The hardest part was finding the tiller because of its age. Suzuki doesn't make the casting anymore. But remember this is on a motor that was over 20 years old when I did this. Once I got one it was easy. For the most part just bolted it on. The throttle cables fit right on.
 
Mark,
I did the very same conversion on a '78 75 Evinrude with parts off the shelf. I don't think there is another one like it anywhere. All the parts were new off the shelf OMC parts and the hardest part was saving the money out of a young teacher's paycheck. We fish a lot and when we bought the motor there was no such thing as a tiller that"big", not true now. The only think I might change is to go to a longer tiller handle off of an 85 Backtroller. I helped a friend do the same thing to a 90 Yamaha several years layter and he was able to buy a kit from Yamaha that bolted right on. I have a 50 Evinrude that I will change if I build a Scaup next. Check the used part market for parts and look up the part numbers of what you need. Good luck and feel free to post any more ??
 
thanks guys for the info. ive sinced found that honda offers tiller conversion kits so it shouldnt be a problem. thanks again, mark
 
Unless there is something seriously wrong with the rig it sounds like a good deal to me. If you can find a used parts dealer that has a tiller set up for that motor that might give you a cheaper option than buying new.

Good luck,
Harry
 
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