Starting motor with outdrive in trailer position

[agallant80]

I know it is not a good idea but will you break anything if you start your motor with the outdrive (bravo 3) in the trailer position? I did this by mistake on my old boat with an alpha one a few times, it started up but on new boat I just did it and the motor would kinda crank over but not all the way, noticed the outdrive was in the trailer position, lowered it and it started. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Levinz11]

Re: Starting motor with outdrive in trailer position

Doing on accident a few times probably didn't hurt anything. The U-joints are at one heck of an angle and they will be scraping the inside of the bellow when turning. Keep the drive down as far as possible when the boat is on the trailer and parked. Your bellows will thank you.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting motor with outdrive in trailer position

In some cases, with the drive all the way up the ujoints can actually hit and damage the gimbal housing where the bellows attaches.