OK, complete idiot here.....what's this lever on my '90 50 hp?

[Cannondale]

There's a lever on the front of my 1990 Force 50hp's swivel bracket, under the steering link. Says "Engage" and "Release". Pic below.

What is it and what does it engage and release? My Clymer's doesn't address this at all. Please help an idiot.......

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: OK, complete idiot here.....what's this lever on my '90 50 hp?

Locks the drive in the down position.If it does nothing then it's probably missing parts.J

 

[emoney]

Re: OK, complete idiot here.....what's this lever on my '90 50 hp?

What Jerry said.....

In simple terms, it keeps the motor from 'tilting up' while you're operating it.
Sometimes, if that's not engaged, the motor will tilt up pretty strong when
you push it in reverse. Down here in Florida, on the West Coast it's very
shallow, so manufacturer's put this in so we could us it in the 'open' stage to
allow for movement in the event we hit a shoal or shallow bottom. That way,
the motor has some 'give' in it instead of just slamming into the rocks, etc.

Easiest way to tell if it works is out of the water. Engage it, and then try to
lift your motor (tilt) like you were going to trailer it. If it doesn't budge, then
it works.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: OK, complete idiot here.....what's this lever on my '90 50 hp?

Thanks guys!

Guess it's missing parts because it does nothing to prevent lifting/tiliting the motor in engage position.

C'est la vie......seems to be a rather benign problem. Something to "look into" around January.

 

[blueoval78]

Re: OK, complete idiot here.....what's this lever on my '90 50 hp?

Mine wasn't working either. Try as I might, I couldn't get the reverse lock reconnected to that lever so I rigged up a simple pull handle in it's place. I pull on the handle to disengage the reverse lock and lift the motor and release the handle to re-engage the lock. It is a critical piece since the motor will lift up out of the water and slam down on your transom if it is not locked in reverse.