Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

[JFLS40]

Does anyone have any feedback or advice concerning using a stick to prop up outdrive while transporting to and from lake? I have an older boat and trying not to sink alot of money into this thing (if i keep telling the wife it's too expensive and hard to find the parts, maybe she will give in and tell me to get a new boat)what I have done is unhooked the tilt cylinders on the prop end and I use a 12in 2x4 to keep it tilted up when not in the water. When it is in the water I just take the stick out. I did put the bolt back through the two cylinders and it just lays on top of the lower unit. Does anyone have any input for me regarding this backyard engineering?

 

[skicat]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

I am sure you have given many fellow boaters a good laugh. On the downside, How do you back-up? I guess you never trim. On the plus side If you hit something your outdrive will move very easily avoiding damage.

 

[JFLS40]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

I back up very slowly, the outdrive is heavy enough it won't jump out of the water. Of course, if I slam the throttle down I would expect it to. Once I have the momentum of the boat going in reverse I am ok.

 

[sealyons]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

You never mentioned what cause the trim system not to work in the first place....is it the pump, cylinders, etc....could be an easy, cheap fix(cheap in boating terms).

 

[JFLS40]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

The cylinders leak and the pump doesn't go up. I haven't looked into the problem in any great detail yet. Also found wires rusted and broken on the trim sensors, or at least what I think are sensors, there round things that say T.L. and T.R. on them?

 

[tryan]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

you say the pump does not go up, so i'll assume it will go down. your trim limit switch may be the problem, but you should be able to access and jump those wires in the bilge to get your 'UP' working.<br /><br />most open circuits i find are wires corroded where they enter the limit switch.<br /><br />in my i/o days, i used a bungee to secure the drive to one side while trailering.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

Get a little classy and jigsaw out a nice piece of 3/4 plywood or better to fit when pulled up, and then get a motorcycle tiedown to tie it secure. If the damn thing works in the water, who cares what some yuppie thinks...

 

[qaztwo]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

I used to place a 2x4, cut to about 8 inchs, between the drive and the gimbal housing. It would slide perfectly through and rest on top of the rams, just below the exhaust below. Later on I put screws on the ends and used a bugee to hold it in place. Came in handy one time when one of the lines to the rams blew. <br />Good luck.

 

[JFLS40]

Re: Trim cyl unhooked-2x4 to prop up outdrive

bump