1973 evinrude 9.5 tilt question

[fish-dc-in-md]

hi, picked up this motor last summer. have been tinkering with it this winter.. question is: when i tilt the motor up i can not tilt it back down. its locked in the up position and to put it back down I have to grab a small metal piece on the right side (part of the tilt lock) with a pair of pliers and pull it out as i tip the motor back down... what an i doing wrong????? THX

 

[GA_Boater]

Lift the motor a little to take the weight off the tilt lock.

Welcome aboard, fish.