Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?

U

uncleslam

Cadet
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
7
Hi All, I have an Alpha 1 / Merc 5.7 on my old Glastron cv-23. In order to get to the lake next to my home (St. Paul, MN) from the boat ramp, we have to pass under a bridge that has some rocks that like to ding my prop from time to time. If I tilt the i/o all the way up and idle through this short 100 ft section I don't have any problems hitting those few rocks. But somewhere I thought I heard that running, even at idle, with the tilt all the way up is bad for the u-joints and or bearings, etc? Is there any truth to that?

Thanks, Mark
 
Last edited:
Haut Medoc

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?


Welcome to iboats......:)
Yes there is truth to that......
You should never run the engine with the drive tilted beyond the 'green' range on the gauge.....
If you are using the trailer switch to go higher than the limit switch allows, then you are in dangerous territory........
It puts excessive pressure on the bearings, & it will fail eventually, possibly catastophically....:eek:
When?
Only the wizard knows........;)​
 
U

uncleslam

Cadet
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
7
Re: Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?

Is it really that bad for the i/o, even if it's only at idle speed for a 100 ft? If so, that means I have to drive to another lake.

Thanks, Mark
 
C

Coors

Captain
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
3,367
Re: Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?

If the drive is all the way up, isn't the prop out of the water?
 
D

DHPMARINE

Captain
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
3,688
Re: Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?

Way bad idea.There is a shaft between the outdrive and your engine that has two u-joints to accomandate the trim angle.Look at your boat and the drive at trim limit.do you trust those u-joints at full tilt ?

Maybe let the boat drift thru.If a u-joint lets go,it can break an $700 bell housing.If more happens,just price a transom plate.

Wow that's a hard way to say NO

DHP
 
D

dave68iou1

Seaman
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
56
Re: Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?

Haut Medoc said:
Welcome to iboats......:)
Yes there is truth to that......
You should never run the engine with the drive tilted beyond the 'green' range on the gauge.....
If you are using the trailer switch to go higher than the limit switch allows, then you are in dangerous territory........
It puts excessive pressure on the bearings, & it will fail eventually, possibly catastophically....:eek:
When?
Only the wizard knows........;)​
Click to expand...

Should I have a limit switch? The trim was relocated to above the dash and I'm not sure how high I can lift it while in shallow water.
 
W

whywhyzed

Banned
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,871
Re: Idling with i/o tilted way up - bad idea?

100 feet? that's about 5 boat lengths....could you not just aim for it about 10 mph and shut the engine off?
 
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