Trim and Tilt?

[bailey]

Never got a definitive answer to a post of a few weeks ago, so I'll try again!
A motor with T/T on it, is it advisible when motor is not in use (moored at a dock, parked on a trailer in a garage or on a trailer while hauling) to have the T/T rods totally retracted into their cylinders?
Thanks Bailey

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Trim and Tilt?

First, lets assume you are referring to an outboard.

When parked at the dock, if the water level is not so low that you are worried about damaging the prop from wake, there is nothing wrong with leaving it tilted in. The water level in my slip for my cruiser is low, so I always fully tilt out to the full "trailer setting" personally. That is said to leave unneccessary pressure on the bellows, but is saves my prop from damage. That is in regards to inboards however, and not related to you. Periodically grease the rams as well.


When trailering, use a transom saver. Worth every penny.

 

[bailey]

Re: Trim and Tilt?

Thanks "High Trim" for your reply. I forgot to mention that the T/T is on an outboard motor (1980 140 Johnson). As for your advice re: transom saver, I bought one of those in early July after replacing the transom. As per instructions that came with that device (to lower the rams a little in case the transom saver should dislodge for whatever reason while trailering the boat so as to prevent the engine from "slamming" down thus preventing damage to transom,boat,and motor. Previously whenever not in use, the rams were always completely lowered, but lately when using the "tilt" mechanism I'm hearing a low grinding noise, only when lowering in the tilt mode NOT in the trim mode.I don't know if it is a coincidence since the noise just started and I have followed those instructions that came with the "saver" .

Bailey

 

[limacina]

Re: Trim and Tilt?

I'm guessing your concern about keeping the rods protected would be like a plow truck piston that is safest tucked away in its cylinder, I've never seen pitting on a piston on an outboard. they're made from stainless, not the typical chrome plated steel of plow pistons.
I put my engines up today based on my thinking that if the two mooring lines failed (unlikely) my boat would wash up on the beach and have less damage with the outboards up.
One concern with outboards is that the whole engine gets out of the water, it's bad to get the protective zinc out and leave 1" of the lower unit in the water all the time