Yamaha 704 handle broke--wits end

[cc13]

My child left the boat lift on and pulled the boat to the top of the boat house. Broke the windshield, console rail, top of motor cowling, and the handle to the Yamaha 704 single binnacle control. I'm having a heck of a time finding replacements. I think I may have the windshield and the rail worked out. What I need is a handle to the 704 remote. The trim/tilt still works. The box itself still works. What I need is the handle. It's made out of pot metal and snapped in half. It's fairly simple- it screws on and the teeth in the handle mesh with the teeth from the box. Right now I'm driving with vice grips and when I need to trim I reach and pick the tim/tilt switch off of the floor. I have talked to several places and I've had some tell me that they have the entire box units (used of course) with broken handles. Apparently, a broken handle is not uncommon. I just can't see buying an entire unit to fix one handle. I need a handle. Also, if anyone knows where I can get a top cowling to a 99 Yamaha 90 that would be great. All help and ideas are welcome. One person told me of people who put aftermarket car shifters on instead of the OEM handle. However they had no idea of the type of aftermarket shifter. I'm just about at wit's end. Thanks

[Bruce W]

WOW - that's some BAD stuff goin' on there!!!!!!!!!!!

Help is on the way - go to the vendor forum and look for "Shipyard Island Marine" - they are a Yamaha dealer and Andy is GREAT to work with - gives discounts to THTer's, too! He carries everything from parts to complete motors! Not sure if you can get the "handle only", but if it can be done, ANDY will do it!

Looks like he ALSO has some "cowlings" on sale!

LOTS of folks here have dealt with Andy - including myself - and he's a GREAT customer-oriented guy!

Good luck on the "refit"!

Regards,

[ngirolamo]

saw some (new) inexpensive (not cheap) 704 binnicle assembly on Ebay..

[Joe]

Min did teh exact same thing a few years back, howeverm it wasn't because of anyone breaking it; it just broke.

I was able to get Yamahs to cover just the handle part. A very generous poster with ties to Yamaha helped me out with that one.

[SIM]

CC13,

No reason to be at wits end......the 704 handles brand new are readily available. Problem is the shinny chrome handle part without any of the gray plastic pieces is about $70.00. Almost a*13 of what the hole 704 control assembly cost's brand new.

I am not going to*comment on*your use of vise*grips as a control handle.....but you may want*seriously re-think that approach. If it falls off while you are using it......the $70.00 or so for the handle*is going to be a deal.

Andy**

[Joe]

At $70 from SIM, thats a bargain. Not 3 years ago all of the Yamaha places locally wanted $100+ for it.