Can't raise motor up for trailering.

[sidecut]

I have a 1968 Evinrude 40, Lark ll. Just bought it, and the boat it's mounted on. I have two problems. First, I can't find the model # or serial # anywhere. Several E-how suggestions said it should be a plate on port side, on mounting bracket. I find no plate anywhere, or any signs that there ever was a plate. Any other suggestions? Problem # 2: I uncovered the boat, started working on it to bring it up to snuff (whatever snuff is) and lowered the motor while searching for the ID plate. It's manual, no power trim. So I pulled the knurled pin out and the motor released and lowered nicely. The pin seemed a bit hard to pull out, so while the motor was still in the down position, I pushed the pin in and out a few times to see if perhaps I should lube it with some WD or spray grease. It seemed to be sliding in and out ok, so I didn't lube it. But later, I went to raise the motor back up before re-covering the boat for the night with tarps, and the motor won't raise. I tugged on the pin, I even got a pair of pliers and really yanked on it, but the motor won't go back up. The release pin seems to be pulling all the way out, it even makes a click when it hits it's stop. But it acts like the pin won't disengage the motor. I can't trailer it around like that, the motor is only about 3 1/2 to 4 inches off the pavement. With frost heaves and pot holes everywhere, (Spring in the northeast), I'd trash the motor or transom, for sure. What to do? Keep it simple, please. I know nothing about outboards. I have a lot to learn, ASAP.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Can't raise motor up for trailering.

Its not in reverse is it? There is an automatic reverse lock. Make sure shifter control is in neutral or forward first thing.

 

[sidecut]

Re: Can't raise motor up for trailering.

I was so excited by this suggestion that I didn't even wait for it to warm up out there. I went out at 31 degrees and undid the tarps, and checked the shift lever. It's now in forward and still the motor won't budge. I tried nuetral, too. Nothin'!

 

[sidecut]

Re: Can't raise motor up for trailering.

OK, I solved the problem. This motor has TWO devices involved in raising the motor or lowering it. Both need to come into play, I guess. I poked around some more, and found a lever on the front of the motor down near the clamp stuff, that says "release" on it. "Hmmmm, I says to myself." The pin that I mentioned is located on the starboard side, and works by pulling it in or out. But there's also a lever that is the main lock or unlock, methinks. It's located toward the bow, right on the front of the motor. It works by sliding it down and to starboard, where it locks in place. If the pin is also pulled out, the motor is free to raise or lower. I gather the pin is to choose which height you want the motor to stop at, and the slide lever is the main lock. I found this out by changing when to push the pin in, as the motor was going up. there's a halfway up, or a all the way up. My neighbor was "helping" me try to locate the ID plate, and he was playing with things that he had no clue about. He must have slid that lever up and the motor locked in the down position. All's well that ends well. NOW! Is there anything else I need to know about that release lever? I would think that I would leave it in the un-locked position when cruising, in case I hit a log or something. Don't want to break the lower unit off, or rip the transom off the boat, right?

 

[ronboonville]

Re: Can't raise motor up for trailering.

When is use leave it in the locked position, that way your reverse will work better. It has a breackaway feature and will release itself if you hit something. I beleive F_R or hightrim told me this so I take it as gospel. If you can't keep it in release position when lifting as mine does, I use a small bungee to hold it there till I get the engine raised. Also lubricating all pivot places helped me.

 

[F_R]

Re: Can't raise motor up for trailering.

The sliding pin is to hold it up in the tilted position. It is NOT strong enough to hold it up while trailering. Use a transom saver (available here at iboats). The lock/release lever is for holding it down while running, or releasing it to tilt it up. It is meant to be locked down while running so it doesn't tilt in reverse or rapid deceleration. Don't worry, it will automatically release if you hit an obstruction. Don't believe it?? Lock it down and then hunker down behind the motor, grab hold of the lower unit and give a mighty yank. It will make a god-awful bang like you busted something, and come on up. Don't worry, the bang was harmless. It was the spring loaded release mechanism doing it's job.

EDIT: I suppose you've found the serial number by now. The plate is right above the lock/release lever, in plain sight.