Help with new mercury 20 hp

[redwolfcrappie]

We recently purchased a 2016 mercury 20 hp electric start with a tiller handle. We went fishing and came back and could not get the handle to turn to reverse. I am afraid to try to turn it too hard but I can easily put it in forward and neutral. Also, we can't seem to get the motor to stay "locked" in the running position so that it does not move while trailering. We did get it to be stationary when we put it in reverse but we cannot do that anymore and that didn't seem to be the proper way to do it. I tried to follow what the manual says with the red tilt lever but that doesn't seem to work. I'm sure there's something I am doing wrong. Lastly, what does the throttle only button mean on the side. I know these are a lot of questions and I am not very gifted mechanically so any help would be appreciated.

 

[ondarvr]

You need to turn the prop sometimes to get it into gear.

​There might be a lever on the lower front of the motor, this will increase the steering tension, moving it to the left should stop it from moving side to side. If you mean locked down, then reverse should do that for you.

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

All the answers should be in the Owner's Manual for a new motor if it's a new motor.

Did you buy it at a dealer? They should be able to help.

 

[redwolfcrappie]

Ondarvr,I was meaning locked down. I went outside and spun the prop and now I can get it into reverse. Thanks. It locks with it in reverse, so then what is the purpose of the tilt lever and when should I use it? Also, any info on that throttle only button would be great. I do have the owners manual but it made me more confused lol.

 

[redwolfcrappie]

I guess what I am wondering now is if putting the motot in reverse is what to do while trailering the boat or is there a different or better way to lock it such as with that tilt lever

 

[ondarvr]

The throttle only button is to be able to increase the throttle and not have it go into gear, this was a complaint for years on older models with the shift in the handle feature, on the older ones you could only raise it to a high idle at max.

 

[roscoe]

Putting it in reverse to lock it down is the way to go.
You could also add a small ratchet strap to help secure it if you think it is bouncing too much.

The tilt release and tilt lock mechanism would be used when working on the motor, or when backing into the lake to launch.
You don't want to hit an underwater obstacle when backing in.

While it is possible to tilt the motor up and use the lock when trailering, that is NOT a good idea.
It is not secure enough, or strong enough, and it will likely break and cause all kinds of damage.

Proper way to trailer that motor is in the vertical position.

 

[redwolfcrappie]

Makes sense. Thanks.