Edson shift lever - on the side or the back?

[druid]

There are two versions of Edson engine controls: the 870ST-45 and the 816ST-45. The former is the one most people are used to: the throttle and shift levers are opposite each other and operate the same way. The latter has the shift lever coming out in front of the wheel, and is moved up and down for reverse and forward.
I can use either, since I have to make a custom mounting bracket at the transmission anyway. Edson recommends the 816 since it might work better with the narrower pedestal I have. But I don't like the placement of the shift lever.
Comments? Does anyone have the 816 and can comment on how easy the shift lever is to access?

 

[woodster]

I have the one in the bottom pic levers on each side ... I had to make a shift cable bracket for the gear box so it would shift in the correct direction ... I like it better than the on with the lever between the wheel and the compass

 

[Mark Maulden]

I have the shift lever coming out the rear of pedestal. I dont have any issues with it. You have to go around the wheel with your hand either way. Up is fwd and down is rev

 

[druid]

I have the shift lever coming out the rear of pedestal. I dont have any issues with it. You have to go around the wheel with your hand either way. Up is fwd and down is rev

That's actually backwards to the way it's supposed to work (supposed to be DOWN is fwd) but sideways I don't think it makes much difference. The lever I have now works that way: down is fwd. Although it's MUCH longer and basically beside the wheel. But one reason I want to get rid of it is that it takes a lot of room between the pedestal and the wheel, making it very hard to install a wheel-mounted Autohelm.

I hear you about having to "go round the wheel either way" - I guess I'm just more used to the fore-and-aft ones.

Anybody else have one?
druid

 

[Pat]

I have the shift lever coming out the rear of pedestal. I dont have any issues with it. You have to go around the wheel with your hand either way. Up is fwd and down is rev

Mine does have a shift level that I throw down...only seems natural....starboard side is throttle.

 

[Mark Maulden]

That's actually backwards to the way it's supposed to work (supposed to be DOWN is fwd) but sideways I don't think it makes much difference. The lever I have now works that way: down is fwd. Although it's MUCH longer and basically beside the wheel. But one reason I want to get rid of it is that it takes a lot of room between the pedestal and the wheel, making it very hard to install a wheel-mounted Autohelm.

I hear you about having to "go round the wheel either way" - I guess I'm just more used to the fore-and-aft ones.

Anybody else have one?
druid

And i have a wheel pilot. Mo problems. I had another just this yrs ago, and it operated the same

 

[Pat]

You are right, down is forward and up is reverse. Pat

 

[berner73]

Have the 816 (down is Reverse/up Forward on ours). Also have the Raymarine X5 mounted - no issues. One thing I did was to replace the clutch lever w/ the 10" version. Makes it a little easier to reach.

http://www.edsonmarine.com/marinest...=product_info&cPath=85_95_214&products_id=835

 

[Mark Maulden]

You are right, down is forward and up is reverse. Pat

Have never seen this config...and on the side config, pushing fwd is fwd....I'd probably end up crashing..

 

[druid]

After talking more with Edson, I ended up with an 816 with the longer handle. And I'll set up the cable so that fwd is down

 

[Tally Ho]

My O'Day 322 has the throttle on the side, and the transmission lever on the front of the pedestal. I have gotten used to it, but think I would have preferred the transmission lever to be opposite the throttle. My understanding was that the lever in the front of the pedestal was primarily to work,with transmissions that needed more force to shift. It has a longer, more sturdy lever than the smaller throttle lever.

Like I,said, I have gotten use to the shift lever placed in the front, and no longer have to look down at the arrow to make sure I have the transmission going in the right gear!

I thought about trying to move it and use the more traditional levers, but decided it was not worth the effort given how little I have to use it.

 

[mauruuru]

Last two boats had the lever system behind the wheel diwn is fwd up reverse. Once you are used to it its natural but you have to reach over the wheel Not Through it unless you want a cast or bandage on your wrist

 

[tjar]

I have the 816. It requires an extra half second of thought as to which direction to put it since it isn't intuitive like the 870 where the boat moves in the direction the lever goes. Up=fwd. Down=reverse.