Electronic Throttle/Shift

[millennium]

Does anyone have experience with electronic throttle/shifting controls.

I have heard horror stories of loss of control heading towards the dock, and the thing is not cheap.

I'm getting to where i may need to replace my old Teleflex and may consider this.
ZF Smartcommand


Added to MyBoatsGear on 9/4/2007

[stondoof]

if you have new engines that are already capable of running with these electronic controls, then adding this control lever set would be somewhat of an easier task - but - if you have older engines, the process of changing your old cable driven control system with these types of electronic controls, you will need to purchase the computer and control box that goes with them. Essentially, the lever set communicates to the control box via a data cable. The control box then utilizes a computer and some electric motors to push and pull cables wich are attached to your engines trottle and gear.

As you can imagine, installng all of that equipment, and ensuring the data connections and cables are 100% perfect is quite a project and expensive.

If you have the new electronically controlled engines, you might call the engine mfgr and ask about this upgrade. But if you have the older engines, you'll be into this project for very big $$ - still a very nice upgrade, but needs to be PERFECT to be safe. Yes - its "fly by wire" but can be made safe as all Boeing 757, 767, etc are "fly by wire - so dont let it scare you...but Boeing doesn't use back-yard part time mechanics to assemble these systems and neither should you!

Good luck
Joe

[chicken of the sea]

I have new twin 09 F250 yammies with the digital "fly by wire" throttles and so far they are awesome. They even have engine synchronizers built into them. Adding them as an aftermarket may be a different story but I am very comfortable with them.

[ElyseM]

anything can fail - and mostly will at the wrong time, but...

as far as "fly by wire", as noted above, things you come into contact now are f-b-w and you may or may not know it. my truck has an f-b-w accelerator; didn't know about it until i asked service to increase the tension and they said no can do - then explained why.

i would be more concerned about the efficiency and effectiveness of the conversion. if it makes sense, i would do it. i have yammie f350's and the controls are great (these do have adjustable tensioners in them so they don't feel loose). ron