Re: Straighten Fin on 88 Evinrude
If it is the small fin towards the back of the motor, there is a bolt either under neith it or down in a hole on top of it that you can loosen and adjust. This is like adjusting the alignment on you car, if it pulls right or left while driving, you adjust the fin to correct it.
If your talking about the large fin on the bottom of the lower unit thats bent, or any other thin part of the lower unit thats bent, I've found that a heavy lead filled rubber mallet works very well. Start with light hits and increase the force of the hits until it just starts to move. Do not just hit it hard as you can at first, or use a wrench to try to pry it, you have to work very slowly or you will build up too much stress in the metal and crack it. If it happens to break or if you hit something with it while boating or driving and break it off you can always buy a new skeg at most boat shops for pretty reasonable price, I'm thinking around $20-40, and have a local welding shop weld it on, for another $20-40. Or if it is just a small chip just smooth it out with a file or grinder. I've never had one break by straightening it with the mallet, and I've straightened a lot of them. Just work very slowly.
