Outboard Kicks up in Reverse

[LONG_KEELER]

6 hp Mariner 4 stroke in a well.

Seems to latch ok when testing out of the water but not when you need it.

I try to use minimum throttle in reverse but berth sometimes needs a big kick in reverse.

Any ideas ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

My Mercury did it on my tender a few times, the tilt pin had worked its way loose so the latch didn't work, needed pushing back in ... the other thing could be corrosion or binding on the hook which latches on the tilt pin preventing the mechanism from engaging. The engine should only tilt in forward gear and the preventer hook is lifted by engaging forward gear - I think the Mariner and Mercury are the same engine.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

On the gear push rod that goes down the leg to the gearbox there should be a mechanism that when the engine is put into reverse operates a lever with a hook on the end of it that hooks round a rod just below the tilt mechanism. This locks the engine down preventing kick up. Yours isn't. You need to get your head down there & have a look.

 

[MonniotC]

"You need to get your head down there & have a look."
+1

 

[TQA]

"You need to get your head down there & have a look."
+1

Or camera on a stick in video mode.

 

[ProDave]

Or camera on a stick in video mode.

Or lift the engine out of the well for a closer look

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Feedback :-

A half upside down inspection in the well with vary lens spectacles didn't reveal much, so withdrew about 26 kilos of outboard from the well and surprised myself how I can still cut it without doing damage to my back.

There is a horizontal bar where the catch clicks onto to enable stopping the outboard from kicking upwards in reverse. The default position for motoring forwards enables the outboard to kick upwards in case of grounding or hitting something.

On inspection everything worked fine - everything ok for neutral, reverse, and forwards . I have a feeling that this is what I found out last year. Clearly something happens when you tighten the two clamps to the boat.

After putting the outboard back in the well and using a mirror to inspect, it became clear that a horizontal support bar
becomes bent when tightening the two clamps . This stopped the latch from clicking properly hence the outboard in reverse kicking upwards. I had to leave it there as time ran out but sure that I can now sort it out.

Thanks chaps for your help.

 

[ReggieK]

I might be stating the obvious and you have already figured this. My Johnson has the same feature and it is impossible to throw it into reverse. I have to throttle fully off and then go into reverse. A quick reverse is just not possible always a bit difficult coming in to tie up with wind astern.