Evinrude Fastwin 18 No Full Tilt Lock

[LaqueRatt]

Think something must be broken or missing. I can't for the life of me figure out how to lock the motor in the full tilt position for trailering. It will lock into the down position using the lever in the front, but not up. There is a part on the starboard side that I can't figure out what it does though. It's kind of rubbery and will sort of pop if I work it a bit, but nothing seems to happen. Please see pics.

 

[flyingscott]

That piece looks like the bracket that holds a shifter cable for a remote control. I believe that motor uses friction to hold it up. If it doesn't give us a pic between the brackets with the motor up. Might be a bracket missing or broken.

 

[tphoyt]

If all else fails you could use a transom saver to hold it up.

 

[LaqueRatt]

The piece just doesn't feel right. It moves around too easily. Guess maybe it's not a problem it it's just for remote control.

That's a really good idea about the transom saver. Is this something I can make myself or should I buy one? Currently on the backburner after the motor conked out on me on the lake yesterday. Geez it ran perfect in the barrel before I tried it out. Always something.....

 

[F_R]

No tilt/trailering lock on that motor. Lots of people just used a broom handle in the hinge once tilted up. Or do it the decent way and buy a transom saver. Probably for sale here.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Thanks F_R, I was going crazy trying to figure out why I couldn't find a lock or even something that looked broken. Seems odd that the motor doesn't lock into position. Makes it pretty much un-trailerable, no? I'm only a half mile from the ramp though so doubt if it matters too much. I did not like how the motor swung to the side though with a piece of 2x4 under it though. I left it down for the trip back. Attaching a couple screen grabs from a Johnson manual. It seems to imply I should have a tab on the side, but the more I look at it the more I'm thinking this is not my motor.

 

[kbait]

The 18’s never had the tilt lock lever in above pics..

 

[racerone]

Make up a " u-shaped " bracket.----Same size as tilt adjusting pin.-----About 6" total.----Than clip that into outer holes and on the reverse lock clamp.----Should keep it raised for trailering.-----Got a box full of those brackets ( 40 HP ) from a dealer , he used to give them away with each 40 HP in the 1960's.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Or a thick piece of wood and a heavy duty bungee cord. MacGyver style!

 

[LaqueRatt]

I have 11" of clearance under the motor when it's not tilted and when locked down it's rock solid. Should be OK, right?

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I have 11" of clearance under the motor when it's not tilted and when locked down it's rock solid. Should be OK, right?

Not sure anyone is going to sign off on that but it seems fine if not traveling far. Here is what people are talking about, transom saver and motor extension lock I believe like racer said.

 

[Dave1027]

My old 3hp Johnson has a tilt friction adjustment bolt. You have to tighten it enough that it will stay in the tilted up position but not so tight that it's hard to tilt. Maybe yours has that too? For trailering I'd have to tight it up with a rope.

 

[tphoyt]

Yea 11” is all good until it’s not.
There are many ways around this as mentioned with some being cheap or free.
Best

 

[LaqueRatt]

All good points. I need to think about this. For now I'll leave it down as I'm only a block from the lake, but going further I'll need to do something. That friction adjustment sounds familiar. I'll have to see if have one of those.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

All good points. I need to think about this. For now I'll leave it down as I'm only a block from the lake, but going further I'll need to do something. That friction adjustment sounds familiar. I'll have to see if have one of those.

Even if you have a friction thing it will only work until the first bump the trailer hits. Get the thing or make the thing that Racerone recommended then again I'm not sure how many outboards I've seen that had a piece of wood wedged in there with a bungee or a tie down strap.

 

[kbait]

+1 on 1x2 board or hunk of broomstick. Bungee it so it cannot fall out on the road.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Was looking things over yesterday. A transom saver, one of those arm things, would have to be like 5' long with a 45 in it to reach from motor to trailer so I'm thinking this isn't really going to work. It's just a long way under the trailer to anything to brace it to. How does the broomstick trick work? When I wedged a board underneath the motor if flopped around side to side like a fish and probably stressed the transom to the max.

 

[racerone]

Perhaps you need to tighten the steering friction.