I have a shifter dilemma..... I currently have zf electronic shifter. In control of the two is bad and a shifter that acts crazy for no reason. Both need replacing. My dilemma is do I replace 1/2 of my zf system or go back with old style cables? The price would be about the same. When the electronic stuff fails you are DEAD IN THE WATER! with cables you get some warning, stiffness, hard to shift etc etc. Thought?
Shifters?!!!
- Thread starter JAYROCK
- Start date
The Electrics are silky smooth but have a slight delay. They are expensive but easy to install. Cables...... Well they are cables. Install is not bad. They do give warning before the give out( in most cases) electric don't! Cables are cheaper.
This may help you male your decision.
http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/maintaining-electronic-shift-and-throttle-controls
Maybe time for a do over! Especially if ZF will give you some sort of trade in on your old unit.
http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/maintaining-electronic-shift-and-throttle-controls
Maybe time for a do over! Especially if ZF will give you some sort of trade in on your old unit.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 9099
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- 1,089
50' under cables over 50' Electronic
Cables are good for 20+ years. how long are you going to live? Keep the boat?
Cables are good for 20+ years. how long are you going to live? Keep the boat?
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 10265
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- 9,958
Read this and found it interesting:
Pods bring aboard both electronic shift and throttle and fly-by-wire steering. Like conventional transmissions, pod systems can be locked in gear manually. Electric motors turn ZF pods to steer, so if necessary, turn the permanently installed hand-crank knob to center the pods and steer by varying port and starboard throttles. Volvo IPS also uses electric steering motors. Center drives with the supplied brake release and crank. CMD Zeus drives use a hydraulic steering pump integral to the pod. If the engine works, so does the pump. Actuate hydraulic solenoids on the pod manually to center drives. Pods also carry duplicate systems on port and starboard, and with the inoperative pod centered, boats are much more maneuverable on one pod than with just one engine turning a conventional shaft.
Knock on wood I have never come back on 1 pod but I am aware of how to center it if I need too.
I probably should practice docking with 1 pod to see as I am know the joystick won't function with 1 pod.
One thing about my boat is both shifters and steering is electronic fly by wire and it does concern me since there is little I can do or feel.
I have very little boat feel in the wheel and sometimes I turn wheel to make sure steering is still there. Takes a little to get used to when you come from hydraulic with inboards.
I do like the pods and the draft really I find to be much better than I thought. I am always amazed at how little of the bottom I churn up as opposed to bigger boats with smaller drafts. I think because I pull thru the water as opposed to push less debris is from the bottom is churned.
Pods bring aboard both electronic shift and throttle and fly-by-wire steering. Like conventional transmissions, pod systems can be locked in gear manually. Electric motors turn ZF pods to steer, so if necessary, turn the permanently installed hand-crank knob to center the pods and steer by varying port and starboard throttles. Volvo IPS also uses electric steering motors. Center drives with the supplied brake release and crank. CMD Zeus drives use a hydraulic steering pump integral to the pod. If the engine works, so does the pump. Actuate hydraulic solenoids on the pod manually to center drives. Pods also carry duplicate systems on port and starboard, and with the inoperative pod centered, boats are much more maneuverable on one pod than with just one engine turning a conventional shaft.
Knock on wood I have never come back on 1 pod but I am aware of how to center it if I need too.
I probably should practice docking with 1 pod to see as I am know the joystick won't function with 1 pod.
One thing about my boat is both shifters and steering is electronic fly by wire and it does concern me since there is little I can do or feel.
I have very little boat feel in the wheel and sometimes I turn wheel to make sure steering is still there. Takes a little to get used to when you come from hydraulic with inboards.
I do like the pods and the draft really I find to be much better than I thought. I am always amazed at how little of the bottom I churn up as opposed to bigger boats with smaller drafts. I think because I pull thru the water as opposed to push less debris is from the bottom is churned.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2002
- RO Number
- 10785
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- 215
You didn't say what series you have on your boat. If you called ZF Marine and don't have the 9000 series, they really are no help, all they want to do is get all the units not in the 9000 series off their books. The reason I know I went for training there and was told that and only got training on the 9000 series and not any of the older stuff. Give Dave at Pinnacle Marine a call....at 855-748-9780. I am sending him a 585 unit next week to rebuild and he quoted me $875
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
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- 12,213
There is no way to provide an intelligent answer without knowing what size boat but most importantly how far are you control stations from the engines, as well as how many control stations.
Personally if the cable run are reasonable and you have no more than two stations, I find it hard to beat cables. Cheap, easy to maintain, reliable and give you warning when something goes wrong like a loose bracket. Electronics have become pretty reliable but can still fail, often at the wrong time.
Also some systems still use cables, anyway. A few years ago I was coming in to dock in Fairhaven ma when I lost controls on the starboard engine (morse electronic) Docked on one engine. Fater restart all was good, only to have it fail again later that day across the bay approaching woods hole in pea soup. Hardly good timing.... Error code on LED was not listed in the manual... Turned out to be that during routine engine service, the mechanic has moved the cable linking the ZF tranny to the Morse servo, increasing friction and causing the system to go off line. Jsut an example... But I like th KISS method when possible
Personally if the cable run are reasonable and you have no more than two stations, I find it hard to beat cables. Cheap, easy to maintain, reliable and give you warning when something goes wrong like a loose bracket. Electronics have become pretty reliable but can still fail, often at the wrong time.
Also some systems still use cables, anyway. A few years ago I was coming in to dock in Fairhaven ma when I lost controls on the starboard engine (morse electronic) Docked on one engine. Fater restart all was good, only to have it fail again later that day across the bay approaching woods hole in pea soup. Hardly good timing.... Error code on LED was not listed in the manual... Turned out to be that during routine engine service, the mechanic has moved the cable linking the ZF tranny to the Morse servo, increasing friction and causing the system to go off line. Jsut an example... But I like th KISS method when possible