OMC Tilt question

[Taffy]

I have just purchased a 1979 Larson 17.5 bowrider with a OMC 800 and a 305 V8.<br /> The fellow at the marina explained to never run the boat with the tilt anywhere but all the way down. Two propellers later I wonder why the manufacturer would build a tilt that can not be used. Is it possible to us the tilt at idle in shallow water? If so how slow of RPm constitutes idle, and in forward and reverse?<br /> Thanks

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Tilt question

Hey Taffy:<br />Just lift up your leg and look at your balls. They were simply made to coexist comfortably with your leg in the full down drive position. It was the price one had to pay for not having all of those hydraulics in the water, for having an extra tight turning radius, for the ability to replace your prop sitting on your transom and the awsome speed at which you could raise the outdrive to avoid that ski rope stretched out across your path. (engine killed and wheel pointing forward of course.)<br /><br />You just have to be more attentive and stay out of shallow water. Depth finders work wonders for that.<br /><br />All kidding aside, my set are now 28 years old and still work...I mean look like new and I do operate a few degrees up occasionally when I get into trouble cause I was lookin at the boat load of pretty girls going by.<br /><br />I've not had to look into the cost of replacing them, but I don't think it's cheap. I have seen a number of pairs that were extremely worn so change your mindset and use them judiciously or you might as well trade it in for a Merc or later OMC

 

[hondon]

Re: OMC Tilt question

Do'nt do it .You will waste a set of very expensive ball gears.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: OMC Tilt question

Changing the running angle of the lower unit - be it i/o or outboard - is referred to as Trim or Tilt.<br /><br />Trim is meant to be used during running.<br />Tilt is 'next step' and will raise the unit above running position to keep it off the bottom or ground - for trailering or mooring/anchoring in shallow waters.<br /><br />The engine may be run in the tilt area at low speed (idle) but the system isn't designed to withstand the stress and will most often be forced down - especially if you increase rpm.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Tilt question

All true UU, except for the OMC 400/800 and earlier series has no 'trim zone' as relates to the relative position of the outdrive to the intermediate housing. Any operation, in or out of gear, other than in full down position is not officially sanctioned. Running at any degree up leg, at any speed is a compromise and enough of it WILL cause damaging wear.

 

[Boatist]

Re: OMC Tilt question

Taffy<br />You can raise it some at low rpms without damage. I have a 1980 Series 400 and have always raise it up to 45 degrees when backing into a beach or very shallow water but at idel or just enough power to move slowly. Never had any problem with the ball gears. Just remember to put all the way down before bring up on plane. You can use trim at all speeds but tilt only at idel.<br /><br />Just for fun checked my owners manual for my 1980 model. It covers 120, 140, 185, 200, 230, 260 hp.<br /><br />"NEVER ATTEMPT TO PLANE THE BOAT WITH THE DRIVE UNIT IN A PARTIALLY TILTED POSITION. However, in an emergency, the unit may be tilted and the boat operated for very short periods if no greater power than is necessary to move the boat is applied. Tilting the unit reduces the draft of the boat for emergency operation in shallow water. ALWAYS RETURN TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR COSTLY DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE TRAIN COMPONETS COULD RESULT."

 

[Spidybot]

Re: OMC Tilt question

Sorry to have misinformed - thinking again I recall having seen this before... way back I wondered why it was made this way.

 

[MarkMtgy]

Re: OMC Tilt question

Got an OMC Sterndrive 600. Just bought a boat with a mercruiser Alpha One. (OMC is for sale if anyone interested, www.emptyhollow.com) True about the OMC, sucker turns very sharp and is very responsive in reverse compared to this newer boat. Both 19', both V6's. The guy that went thru the drive on the OMC when I bought it told me that you should never run it unless the drive is all the way down. He said the manual says you can, but you'll be replacing those 2 ball gears at 80 bucks apeice if you do. So I've been anal about it and never had any problems with the drive. Whenever I'm in shallow water (all the time here in Utah) I just run the trim up all the way and watch the depth meter. I know when I'm about to till the bottom, I just take it out of gear and if it hangs, I shut off and tilt up...No biggie. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[tmclendon]

Re: OMC Tilt question

I had an OMC V-6/800 for 19 years, Ball Joint is maybe 25% worn, I think the manual says to replace it at 75%?? I may be wrong on that figure, I sold the manual with the boat! Very rarely did I run it tilted up, but had no problems on those occasions. I think that the ball joint turns at ENGINE RPMs, not prop RPMs, so there are a lot of RPMs there, even at low speed. My rule of thumb was never to exceed 1000 RPMs with the unit tilted.<br />Tom

 

[tmclendon]

Re: OMC Tilt question

And by the way, I LOVED the turn radius with that OMC. My new Mercruiser Gen2 is a big disapointment in that area.<br />t.