Tilting Outboard While Launching

[Dialtone75]

I have a 16 foot Mirrocraft aluminum fishing boat with a 25 HP Johson Outboard. It has a lever to release the motor for tilting up while launching. But what do you use to hold the motor up? For now I wedged a piece of wood in there for the few minutes I need to hold it up while backing down the launch ramp. I am new to boating and tried Googling it. But I don't know what it is called. Anyone?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

Any outboard engine I've owned had some sort of flip lever or spring loaded pin for locking tilt position, I guess that doesn't say much, are you maybe just not seeing it? Someone with the same engine will probably chime in here.

 

[Dialtone75]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

I do have a lever for releasing it from it's locked down position. I looked for quite some time how to lock it up.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

My 82 johnson 35 has a spring loaded flip lever on the left side[looking at it from the rear] which snaps when the motor is all the up,,then you flip the same lever back down to lower it.
More important is to remember to flip the lever up to unlock it when you run the motor.[so the lower unit can pop up if you hit something in the water]

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

What year is your motor? Sure sounds like a part is missing or broke. Like the previous poster stated all johnsons that I am aware of have a lock lever and a spring latch. Maybe post some pics.

 

[stevenj]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

vintage 50's johnson / evinrudes do not have a locking mechanism to hold the motor up, but rather relied on a spring friction system. they have a nut on one side of the tilt pivot point that you tighten to create friction to hold motor up just enough to be able launch retrieve, although mine drop while
bouncing on the traction grooves of most ramps i have used.


steve

 

[Dialtone75]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

The motor is a 1969 so somewhat old. I looked over the whole motor again yesterday. I would consider myself pretty mechanically inclined but don't know tons about outboards. I did not see anything that would allow the unit to lock up. I was able to tilt it almost to 90 degrees and still saw nothing. Again, there is a locking mechanism to release it from the horizontal pin holding it down. I can always use a wood block, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something very obvious.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

You might look at this link and see if your missing anything.

http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=923e30549095402e5b1340f3ae83f5bd

The locking mechanisn looks to be the same as my 9.5 which is older. The lever under the throttle gets pushed in to release. Once the motor is up you pull on that lever to actuate an arm that locks the motor up. There should be notches by the trim grooves that the arm will rest in. It may also have to have the the motor in fwd or reverse, push the release button to tilt it up. If you let go of the release button while the motor is in gear and raised it may lock it. Not familiar with that motor so I'm shooting in the dark here.

 

[dark cloud]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

I am having the same problem! I have a 14 ft mirrow craft with a 1961 18 hp johnson and can find no way of locking it in the tilt position. I think the above poster is correct on the friction for holding it up, maybe even in the sixtys.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

Maybe someone else will chime in here but my 1964 9.5 has a tilt lock.

 

[outkast7222]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

My 1968 FD-21R 20hp Johnson does't have a tilt lock either. It releases and tilts up and i just use a small block of wood to keep it up.

 

[Dialtone75]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

Ok I am not crazy! I just looked again this evening and there is nothing remotely close to anything that would lock it up. I guess I am back to a block of wood.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Tilting Outboard While Launching

I did some searching because I couldn't believe they would make a motor without a lock to hold it up. But, near as I can tell they did. I read that it is held up friction which is adjusted by tightening the pivot bolt. There is supposed to be rubber gromets in there. Without those it seems that you can tighten all you want and it won't do any good. If you look at the lower unit group in the diagram i sent you before you need #45,46,47, and 99 to tighten properly. That should hold the motor well enough when unloading and on the water. I would get a transom saver for trailering though the friction will not hold it.