I recently purchased a used 1986 Mercury 20 hp tillar long shaft outboard. This is my first small outboard like this. Can someone tell me how you release the tilt so I can raise the motor when I trailer it back and forth to the lake? I've found the lever (I think anyway) but can't seem to move it. Are they known for getting stuck? Everything else seems to be in great working order. Thanks for any advise anyone has on this.
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Releasing the tilt on a 1986 Mercury 20 hp tillar
- Thread starter LaTexan
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nccatfisher
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It has a tab that you can flip over best I remember one way it will tilt one way it is locked. You tilt the motor all the way up and it has a latch that drops down and holds the motor all the way up. When you want to lower the motor you have to lift up on the motor and manually raise the latch out of bar to let it back down. All of this is on the left side of the motor when you are sitting in the boat.
HANGEYE
Well-known member
Stand behind your boat and reach down and grab the cavatation plate above the prop. Lift it up until the latch catches and holds the motor up. If the motor doesn't lift, put the motor in the FORWARD gear and try it again. Hope this helps.
HANGEYE
HANGEYE
HANGEYE
Well-known member
Did you get it to lift?
krawler
Well-known member
Don't travel with the motor tilted up. It's not designed for that and it can break allowing the motor to slam back down. Either leave the motor down or use a transom saver if you need ground clearance.
Hangeye, no I haven't had a chance to get out and try it yet but this weekend shouldn't be a problem. The wife left today on a girls trip so I plan to spend the weekend installing a jack plate, wiring the ignition switch and some accessories.
Krawler, I know it shouldn't be trailered tilted up like that but I haven't been able to lift it to put the transom mount on, which is why I put the question out there. Thanks for the info though.
Krawler, I know it shouldn't be trailered tilted up like that but I haven't been able to lift it to put the transom mount on, which is why I put the question out there. Thanks for the info though.
