How important are shocks?

J

jonesec

Cadet
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
10
I purchased a Merc 70 hp triple project motor last summer. Someone beat me to the motor and bought the power tilt/trim off the motor, but I got the rest. After a number of repairs--carbs, switchbox, I got the motor to fire and run. It has good compression, and I think it will make a nice motor for my 16 ft Starcraft aluminum.

However, since it originally had power tilt/trim, it has no shocks on it. Is it necessary to use the shocks when you run the motor on the boat? I would like to get some feedback on this before I proceed with the project.

Thanks in advance!
 
W

wired247

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 8, 2011
Messages
1,557
Re: How important are shocks?

It will run fine until you try to stop or go into reverse and the motor starts bouncing all over the place.
 
GA_Boater

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
Re: How important are shocks?

You have to get and install the parts to enable reverse lock because it's disabled on a TnT motor. Or just like wired said.
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,940
Re: How important are shocks?

Merc used to, maybe still do a lot of testing at a "Lake X" in Florida. My opinion is that shocks came out on their engines as a result of that testing where one of the things they did was to deliberately run over large logs like might be floating in a river after a big rain, or go slamming across a sand bar, also popular hazards in rivers especially. Also they used an ignition kill switch on some engines as part of that to kill the engine when the LU came up to a certain point. Both were designed to cushion the impact of the LU slamming down on the transom after crossing the log.....think about it the engine was running at WOT, prop slams up airborne, revs go out the roof, gravity brings the prob (and LU) back into the water and BAM...broken engine or ripped out transom. The first trim units were nothing more than shocks, mounted in the same brackets, with fluid ports and a pump allowing you to change the position of the LU as you desired.

I don't recall any other mfgr. using shocks prior to the incorporation of tilt and then tilt and trim on engines. As the other guys stated, you need to have a look at a reverse lock function. Yes it is probably not there and yes your engine will back itself up out of the water if revving too high when backing.

Mark
 
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