Tilt Locking pin for mercury outboard seems fiddly

[driscos]

Thanks to some kind people on this forum, we worked out our Shetland 498 wasn't running so well because of a standard shaft ex-RNLI engine on the back (for sale if anyone wants it).

We've since bout a long shaft Mercury engine (probably pre-2000) that has a tilt locking pin as described here:

http://www.marinepartsman.com/tilt-...systems-in-mercury-and-mariner-outboards.html

We've just put the boat back in the water and it seems to be quite hard to pull the engine up and thread the locking pin in (it has a head that folds over when it meets an obstacle).

Is there an easier solution?

Thanks
Simon

 

[VicS]

You don't say what engine

Armed with HP and serial number you can identify the actual year of manufacture at http://download.brunswick-marine.com/download/main?type=corp

Also from the above site you can then download an Operation and Maintenance Manual. I am sure that will have instructions for adjusting the tilt.

However it is, I think, an ordinary drop-nose pin. Tilt the engine fully, hold the pin in the orientation in which the nose remains in line with the pin insert it in the position you require. When in place turn the pin through 180° to allow the nose to drop. Finally lower the engine and make sure the tilt locking mechanism can be engaged or you'll have a surprise when you go astern.

 

[driscos]

Thanks for the link Vic - will lock the engine as you've described

The old engine is a 2003 40hp 2 stroke Mariner

 

[jfm]

it seems to be quite hard to pull the engine up and thread the locking pin in (it has a head that folds over when it meets an obstacle).

Simon I think you may be doing it wrong. It's an ordinary drop nose pin, but it should be put in ashore, with boat on trailer. It should not be inserted/extracted when at sea. Indeed, once in, and once you have it in the hole you're happy with angle-wise, it can stay there for 20 years

So why are you taking it in/out at sea? Is it becuase you think you have to take the pin out to tilt the engine up? If so, you're missing the fact there is a moving tilt lock assembly. You have to put the engine in fwd gear to tilt it up. If you check underneath you'll see there are two rotating hooks that latch onto the pin when in neutral or reverse, but which unlatch when you select fwd gear. So, to tilt engine, do not remove pin, just selct fwd gear. Never extract/insert the pin when at sea

 

[driscos]

Thanks for that, saved us a lot of frustration. I was backing the van up when the mechanic was explaining the tilt to my mate. That's my excuse anyway.