Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

[CW180]

Tonight I got the aux bracket mounted on my boat and my very clean little BF5 (2006) backup hooked onto the bracket.

I ran it for a while in a drum of water since I've barely run it since I bought it a few months back, and it started easily & ran just fine.
I did have a bit of a surprise discovery however that has got me slightly worried, which was a mystery stainless pin just sitting loose inside the cowling when I removed it after running the engine for 10 minutes or so:

So it's just under an inch long and 5mm wide, solid stainless pin. I haven't the faintest idea what it's from but it's making me nervous.
The bit where I found it was next to the small hole near the bottom of this pic, just sitting there loose:

If anyone could advise where its rightful home is I'd be very very grateful thanks!

The second question is not so much BF5 specific as aux engine specific, and how people secure them adequately.

The bracket was from my engineer and he says they're the only ones he used to sell as they're the only ones he's found with decent build quality, but now it's on the boat and the BF5 is on it, in the up position is wobbles around like crazy!
Am concerned about how to keep it secure when underway on the water as I obviously do not want it bouncing around, trying to make itself come loose and end up on the seabed.

Here's how it is on the boat:

Obviously some sort of rope or chain arrangement would be a good idea here, but I'm not sure how best to achieve that with the engine tilted up? If it was down then I could add hoops either side of its leg on the transom and use a rope or strong bungee across the back of the leg but the engine needs to be up and tilted when not in use, so I'm not sure what's best.

Many thanks!
Jim

 

[JB]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

Back in the day my little JohnnyRudes had a spare shear pin/drive pin mounted in a fuse holder-type clip inside the bonnet. Could that be what you have found?

 

[Dman]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

Could be the extra pin. Take off the prop and see if one like that runs through the drive shaft. Or maybe a pin for something to pivot, shift linkage, throttle etc.

I had a lift like that. Return after one use. Too much sway back and forth, poorly designed and plenty expensive. Went with a Panther 35 power lift. all problems solved. Problem with those is the clearance on the extensions has to be there for it to move up and down, but then causes wobble in the bracket. Then the torque of the motor moving puts torque on the bracket, causing it to flex. Not solid enough for my liking even though 1000's of boat have those on.

Found the Panther lift for $300 used. Awesome.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

Must be the picture, but I don't see any bolts in the motor mount. Don't trust just the screw clamps, put two SS bolts on the motor mount. A bungy cord or two will keep it from bouncing around when its up.

 

[CW180]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

Thanks guys - yes it turns out it is indeed a spare shear pin, so that's a relief.

I thought the same thing about bolts to secure it as my old 5hp Johnson had bolts as well as the screw clamps, but surprisingly this honda has no means of doing that. Seems a bit dumb when these things can be so easily stolen. I know a couple of bolts doesn't make much difference in reality but at least it means you need tools instead of just walking off with it.

I'll have a chain through the carry handle to stop it dropping in the brine, and I've found the clamp has some slack that I should be able to adjust out. That will help.

Trouble with the bungies is how best to hook them up when the engine is up and tilted as well - it's not ideal for getting a good tight tie up but I can mess around with it and see what's best.

Those panther mounts look great, but they look like they just tilt and don't lift as well? Can't afford one currently but if it did both then I'd love one!

 

[JEBar]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

nice looking setup but I am a bit curious .... don't know if it is possible to do so but have you considered converting your kicker to remote steering .... I can't help but wonder how handy it would be to use a tiller steer on a center console boat

Jim

 

[CW180]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

I did see some kind of remote steer thing for backup motors the other day but I wouldn't bother with it personally.

For my aux engine I'd prefer to keep it as basic and simple as possible to reduce the odds of anything getting stuck or failing etc when you're in a problem scenario.

I haven't tested it in the water to know how far down it needs to sit on the bracket to move the boat well, but even at the bottom position the tiller is still relatively easy to use, and essentially it's not going to have to do a great deal of steering.
My last boat had more freeboard so when the backup was fully down it was a nightmare to steer, but this one having a lower transom makes it pretty easy fortunately.

Just means if you're using that to get home then you sit at the back instead of at the console.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Just mounted aux engine - couple of questions about it

Never run with the kicker tilted up. Not when the boat is in the water running and certainly NEVER when you are on the highway. I use a simple bungie cord to keep the motor from swaying when you make a turn. Optionally, turn the steering friction bolt tight and it won't move when traveling.

The motor is mounted too low. Raise the bracket as high as it will go. As long as the skeg is above the bottom of the boat in the up position you should be OK. In the down position, the prop needs to be below the bottom of the boat. For the size of your transom, you should have a short shaft motor.

I can't comment about your bracket because I have never used one like it. I've tried several spring models and like a previous poster said, they only got used once. The ONLY bracet I would ever use is an OMC one with a gas cylinder. Sadly they don't make them any more, but I picked up a NOS on EBay a few years ago. My first one lasted 25 years before it wore out.

Agree about the steering bracket - I wouldn't be without one. Mine was homemade with a SS rod and 2 QD connectors. I can easily steer with the tiller but having the rod just makes life so much easier.