Engine lifting up while reversing

[Groot Brak]

I have a 35HP and I think its a 76 model. I have front controls, and when I go into reverse I have to go very slow or else the engine climbs out of the water. I have checked and re-checked but I cannot find any lever or pin that can prevent this. I prefer to use my engine unlocked in the down position, but surely there should be a way of of locking it at least temporarily while reversing. I have seen never engines where I lever engages while reversing preventing the motor from lifting up. Any thoughts on how to prevent this from happening?

[Cricket Too]

Groot....Welcome to the forum. On the mounting bracket that mounts the engine to the transom there should be a lever, possibly black, that says run/tilt, run on one side, tilt on the other. These levers are usually on the port side of the motor. If you switch this lever to the run position it will lock down, so as not to come up while reversing, alot of people like to leave them in the tilt position just in case they hit a sand bar or something. But regardless the engine will usually only come up if you are accelerating hard in reverse, if it creeps up a little bit when reversing normally don't worry because they usually go right back down when you put them in forward again. Good luck.

[papasage]

some of the newer engins will auto lock down when put in reverse . i think merc was the first.

[rickdb1boat]

Normally??, there will be a pin(About 3/8") running from one side of the bracket to the other. There should also be a set of "Jaws" that clamp onto both sides of that bar when in reverse to prevent it from jumping up. There is usually a spring loaded lever to engage or release the jaws. Maybe someone did away with yours for one reason or the other. Might be the jaws would not release and they could not tilt it up, so they took the whole nine yards off..

[Groot Brak]

Sorry guys and gals. No such luck with levers or jaws to keep the engine down. I've checked and re-checked, but except for the normal lever that locks the engine while in the up position I have nothing. I was told that I could use some bungy cord around the motor. It would restrain, not prevent, the motor from lifting up. And it should also add some protection against that sand bank.Regards

[Cricket Too]

I'm pretty sure that the same lever that locks the motor up (trailer lock) is the run/tilt lever. Try moving that lever when you have the motor down, if there are no "jaws" to hold the engine down in the RUN position, you may be missing something.

[spike440]

I had my boat for half of last summer before I figured out where that lever is! Mine is a 1971 Johnson 50, and the lever is in between the two clamp screws that you turn to clamp the motor onto the transom. It's back in there a ways and slightly below the clamp screws. I hope yours is still on your motor, and you find it. Scared the crap outta me when my motor slammed back into the water.-Spiker

[oregonducker]

Here's a picture of the lever Spiker mentioned. This in on a 1972 25 horse.

[rodbolt]

hello someone may not have understood how it all worked and removed it. if you think that is scary try a rapid throttle shutdown at planeing speeds and the motor will try to climb in the boat with you. the lock is designed to prevent an engine trail up in fwd and reverse but if you strike something solid the latch will release and allow the motor to come up. if the lever is in the tilt(unlocked) position and you hit something hard at speed it will likely toss it to the up and locked position that my friend is a hilarity to watch. ever heard your tiny mite at wot out of the water and locked in the full upright position? I have seen it and its oh so funny. scares the jeebers outta people. best advice is to find a dealer that knows and understands the mechanism and repair it. or remove all the locks and live with it. good luck and keep posting