Replacement - Whitlock Lewmar Lever Engine Control

[James Ashton]

Hello all,

On my J42, #17, the old single lever engine control is cracked and I'd like to swap out for a stainless version and of course there is no handle available from Lewmar that will fit, so I am apparently forced to swap out the whole mechanism.   It looks promising that the product below may work on my Whitlock pedestal.

Has anyone had to do this job?  I'm trying to determine if this part would work and the level of difficulty, (eg: taking apart the pedestal)?    My other option is to try to repair the old lever of course.

Thanks for any input.

James

Arcada, J42, #17

[Bill Bowers]

Hello James

That kit is correct and easy to install in your Whitlock pedestal. I have done it twice due to mainsheet snags when charging. The second time I installed the lever horizontal aft in neutral. When full ahead it no longer projects forward and cannot get snagged in a jibe.   Recommend this!

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 18, 2023, at 10:46 AM, James Ashton <jfelto...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

<Screen Shot 2023-04-18 at 10.23.05 AM.png>

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[Robert Thuss]

Please let us know where that screenshot is from. What is your source for the kit - thanks, Robert

Robert Thuss J/42 #63 Lucy Belle

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[James Ashton]

Thanks Bill.   That's good news indeed. 

Robert, it's a Lewmar replacement for a Whitlock pedestal sold by Defender - so it seems promising.  I was curious how easy/hard the Whitlock pedestal comes apart to get at the internal mechanism , sounds from Bill not too difficult.

https://defender.com/en_us/lewmar-complete-shift-control-mechanism-89400108

Thank you

Lewmar Complete Shift Control Mechanism - 89400108

Description

This Lewmar Shift Control Mechanism is designed for Whitlock pedestals.

Features:

• Lewmar Shift Control Mechanism
• Applications: Whitlock Pedestals
• Includes Handle, Gasket, Throttle Mechanism and Cable Fasteners
• Requires pod attached to the pedestal or bulkhead mounted fascia plate (sold separately)

In the Box:

• Handle 85000530
• Gasket 82000842
• Throttle Mechanism 82000132
• Fastener kit (Parts that hold cables onto throttle mechanism) 89400146

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[Robert Thuss]

Much appreciated! Robert

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[Steve Rowell]

Have you considered at all having your old one 3D printed in a strong plastic? Not sure if that would work but if you know someone that does that kind of thing they could probably tell you.

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[Todd Stevens]

Replacing only the handle should be pretty easy.

Have you tried contacting Whitlock Steering directly?   I.e. Lewmar may assemble the kit, but I'm pretty sure that's a standard Teleflex Morse OEM control unit. Lots of handles should fit it. Maybe difficult to 3D print because it has fine interior teeth that have to fit over the control unit spline.

My J/42 had the opposite problem - mainsheet foul ripped the stainless handle right off my Edson pedestal. The handle was fine but the cast aluminum spline of the control unit broke off.  No one had quite what I needed listed on line so I called Edson and they sent only the part I needed. (IIRC, they do have only the shift lever listed on line, but it says "Edson" on it. Otherwise looks like the picture - angles outward to conform to the pedestal shape.)

 It was a bit involved to replace the whole control unit - access was poor and the cables and wires didn't have a lot of slack. If you do replace the control unit, note carefully how the cables are attached (take pics if possible). There are several different ways to attach the cables, depending on your engine and pedestal set-up and which way you want "forward" to be.  

Come to think of it, a plastic handle may be preferable because it might break before the aluminum spline, whereas a stainless piece would win that battle and make a much more difficult and expensive repair.  BTDT

[James Ashton]

Yes Todd, have an email out to what is left of Whitlock in the UK.

I have a new Lewmar kit for Whitlock pedestal, that appears to be the best path forward for now.

Thanks everyone.

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[Dennis Boyd]

All, 

On Jaywalker,   Lewmar Shift Control Mechanism is about impossilbe  to shift.     I was wondering if anyone has encountered this.    Do the cables need to be replaced?   Is it the mechanism/Shifter?     Could it be both?  Or is it normal to be difficult?

Before I tear into this, I am wondering if anyone else has tackled this?    Any tips / suggestion would be appriciated. 

Thanks, 

Dennis

Jaywalker J/42 #6

[Mark Wensell]

Hey Dennis,

On a different boat, I had a similar shifter issue and it was the cable seizing up (which was easy to replace).    Quickest way to test was to unhook the shift cable first at the transmission end and then at the controller end (after rehooking up the transmission end) - it was pretty clear it was the cable after that process.

The shifting wire in the middle of the cable eventually eats through the UMHW sheath, usually as it goes around a bend, and then makes contact with the outer cover, which then adds much more friction.   On mine, the cable had length/type markings on it and it was easy to track down the right replacement - new cable removed all friction.

Mark

Shadow J/46 #34

[Albert Bossar]

Dennis,

I have done both on Allegiant. I replaced the lemar shift lever, infact twice, on allegiant. It was definitely a both issue for me and I also replaced the cables as well. It is not very hard, and not terribly expensive. And both made shifting much easier. 

I think the two most important things were the cable length to match the old cables and makes sure the throttling is correct, and to be careful about routing them from the lever down to the engine so they do not bend too sharply. I'm not a mechanic, but I am pretty sure you don't want them to sharply bend. 

I had decent access to route the cables for the most part and you can take the top of the whitlock off enough that you don't need to disconnect your chart plotter. I use a sail tie tied to the aft end of the boom at the bail, and hang the top of the pedestal to the side. 

send me a DM if you want more info. happy to share. 

regards,

Bert

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[Dennis Boyd]

Bert, Mark,

Ok I will mentally prepare to replace both.  My gut is it is a cable only issue, but the shifter is original (I think)    The mainsheet did lasso the helm once per boat history and removed the grab rail, missed the trottle level.   But it's do, and if I have it all apart, let's just take care of it. 

Bert, 

I will follow up on your offer.

Thanks all, 

Dennis

Jaywalker J/42  #6

[Bill Bowers]

I have rebuilt the Whitlock throttle/ shift on 1996 J42 #3 twice in 10 years using that kit. Motorsailing exposes the lever to decapitation when tacking or jibing.  I have a pair of long teleflex cables aboard jury rigged at Baddeck Marine with levers on a board that can be lashed to the pedestal as our Get Home kit. 

The big take is to mount the splined lever rotated 90 degrees aft so neutral is horizontal and full forward is still hidden behind the pedestal. The lever still nicely clears the wheel in neutral.  

Cheers

Bill Bowers

J42 ConverJence

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[Bill Bowers]

The Get Home cables go down the companionway.

On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 11:49 AM Dennis Boyd <dennis....@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Dennis Boyd]

Bill, 

That's sounds very interesting.    Would happen to have any photo's?   To employ, do you nee to hook it up or is it somehow wired and redunant?

thanks for the suggestion. 

Dennis

[Bill Bowers]

Hi Dennis

It is a jury rig, not warranting permanent mounting. I remove the front engine panel under the ladder and lead the cables back to the transmission and fuel pump linkages. Noisy and hot but not needed if you remount your pedestal lever back to 270 deg horizontal neutral so it cannot snag the main sheet. 

I will look for pics. 

Cheers

Bill

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