Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

[dynamic]

I have a 17 foot fiberglass ski & fish that has an old 65 hp merc to push it around the lake. The motor needs to be adjusted to the right trim angle before starting out on the lake. This is done by muscling it to the right height and squirreling a narrow gage rod through some holes going through the transom mount and the engine. My question is if I need to run the rod through both the motor and transom mounts, or if I can just set the rod to the right height in the transom, and then lower the engine down onto it once it is in the water?

This seems easier, and gives the option of pulling the motor up for loading, shallow water, etc. I tried it last time I had the boat out and found it makes the motor jump up when in reverse, but is there any detrimental side effect I should be concerned with aside from that?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

Its fine, except for when in reverse, the motor may raise up and deprive the motor of cooling water. If you keep the rev's down, you should be ok, in my opinion.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

well here you answered your own Q ........

can just set the rod to the right height in the transom, and then lower the engine down onto it once it is in the water?

This seems easier, and gives the option of pulling the motor up for loading, shallow water, etc. I tried it last time I had the boat out and found it makes the motor jump up when in reverse, but is there any detrimental side effect I should be concerned with aside from that?

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

don't worry about the motor jumping up when in reverse ..... you can always ask someone that is driving with to keep the motor down ......

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

I am sure that as long as you do not try to go too fast in reverse you should be O.K. Watch out for the cooling water thing though

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

you can get a power trim/tilt aftermarket setup made by CMC

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

This seems easier, and gives the option of pulling the motor up for loading, shallow water, etc. I tried it last time I had the boat out and found it makes the motor jump up when in reverse, but is there any detrimental side effect I should be concerned with aside from that?

I am not sure how old "old" is, but on my 1972 merc 650, you would put the control box in fwd (with the motor off) before lowering the motor. Then, when the control box was in neutral or reverse, a couple of metal "fingers" on the transom bracket would move into place to keep the motor from popping up. If you just lowered the motor without it being in fwd, it would sit on the wrong side of the fingers and the motor would flop up in reverse.

Hope this helps,
-E

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

The older manual trim mercs were locked to the trim pin when in neutral or reverve and released when in forward. Just put the motor into forward when you want to lift it up. The hooks should be spring loaded and are shaped to allow them rise over the pin when the engine is lowered.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

actually most outboards are as jimmbo described.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

Older Johnrudes had a lock system that was either locked or unlocked regardless if the motor was in gear or not.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Triming a motor without automatic tilt/trim

you DON'T want to pin it solid, if you hit something even at a slower speed you cna kiss your lower unit goodbuy!