Tiller mount mystery

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Raya
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 8:14 am
Location: Hope Island

Tiller mount mystery

Post by Raya »

Most products manufactured over a period of time are subject to changes in design and materials. Changes to design or materials are not undertaken without good reason as there is a cost to implement each change so the change will be as a result to either reduce production costs, improve the product, or because of the changed availability of component parts.

Seagull outboards are a good example of a long produced item that has undergone continual changes during its production life. Although outwardly similar, early and late models have many different parts, some interchangable, but differing in design or construction.

It is often easy to see the thinking behind many of the changes. Cost savings using plastics or aluminium and steel replacing brass and bronze.

One change that has eluded explanation in my mind, is the change to the positioning of the tiller mount. When the tiller changed from the Pipe T piece to the aluminium flange on the 102, the flange was centred on the matching piece on the engine caseing. With the subsequent century and forty models, the tiller flange hole was offset to one side so that the tiller moved forward in relation to the engine and the two surfaces no longer aligned.

Has anyone any theories as to why Seagull made this change? There was obviously a reason, but the logic escapes me.
Centred tiller.jpg
Offset Tiller.jpg
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