How to Work the Control Lever on a 1965 Mercury Outboard

The 1965 Mercury outboard uses the Type 600 A control lever. This single-lever control first appeared in 1965 and includes the key switch, a stop switch and a choke switch on the faceplate to which the control lever is attached. It embodies a neutral-safety switch, a warning buzzer and a wiring harness to connect it to the outboard. Gear changes are controlled by the movement -- forward or backward -- of the throttle. Unlike digital throttle and shift units, it does not include a trim switch to activate a trim/tilt system.

Instructions

    • 1

      Push the throttle handle forward, toward the front of the boat -- the bow -- to go forward.

    • 2

      Pull the throttle handle toward the rear of the boat -- the stern -- to make the boat go backward.

    • 3

      Move the throttle handle to the center of the range between all the way forward and all the way backward, to put the gear case into neutral. Generally, the throttle handle is close to straight up when the control is in neutral.