1985 Mercury 18XD Tilt Stop Replacement

[orangeTANG]

I have a 1985 Mercury 18XD that I use primarily for fishing. The tilt stop on this unit has only 2 positions, all the way down, and all the way up. I know some other Mercury motors, even older ones have a secondary stop some people call "shallow drive" or trolling.

Does anyone know if you can directly swap these tilt stops with one off another motor that has 3 positions instead of 2? Or does anyone have an alternative method they use that allows you to raise the motor into a shallow position? Is there anything wrong with running a motor tilted like that as long as its still pulling water through the pump?

 

[flyingscott]

Use a 2x4 to brace it up just make sure the intakes are under water.. If you want the shallowater drive mercury might make a kit for yours or you can find a junk motor and take it off of that.