Tilt up or tilt down when not in use?

Just querying if there is a general trend for people to leave their motors fully tilted up or tilted down when sitting in the driveway waiting for the next use.

Is either of the above good/bad for the hydraulics??

Cheers,

Browny.

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I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!


Bruce's picture

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Date Joined: 11/04/12

I usually keep mine tilted

Wed, 2012-08-01 12:58

I usually keep mine tilted down, I think it might put less pressure on the mounting bracket?

Posts: 3246

Date Joined: 15/08/09

Good question - Ivé often

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:06

wondered the same, I'm surprised that so many people seem to tow their boats with the motor tilted right up - I would have thought that would be putting unnecessary pressure on the hydro rams.  

Boppo's picture

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down.

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:16

Saves the seals from drying up then leading to other problems

carnarvonite's picture

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Down

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:20

As Boppo says , down to save the rams and seals plus it lets all the water drain from inside the legs helping to prevent electrolisis inside

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Date Joined: 01/01/70

Agreed, down..

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:35

I agree, down - that way there is not so much leverage on the transom, seals are out of the sun, Hydraulics is not loaded up and your motors engine oil is in the normal position, and no dust or water can collect in the propellor shaft bearings - some air intakes are on the rear cover of the motor and rain can get in there too....

Browny's picture

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Date Joined: 04/01/11

Thanks for replies.Down

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:38

Thanks for replies.

Down she'll stay when not in use.

What about for extended travelling trips? Seen lots of boats with wood chocks to keep at half tilt. Is this good/bad method??

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I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!

Bruce's picture

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Date Joined: 11/04/12

Good

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:52

Put a block of wood in there and just trim the motor down until the wood is staying there and is secure. Also makes sure the motor doesn't hit on the road if you go over a kerb/ speed bump

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Date Joined: 01/01/70

IMHO..

Wed, 2012-08-01 13:54

IMHO I travel with a block at the bottom of my motor at the lower end of the transom to prevent the leverage from the motor on the transom pulling and cracking the boat - I need the block to keep the motor tilted just enough not to touch the ground on speedbumps and rough terrain, and the hydraulics are not taking a knock on every bump.

I suppose this depends on the size motor and type of boat you have, but tilt your motor fully up and gently rock the motor up and down a bit and see how much force it actually puts on your boat - mine moves the transom slightly(aluminium) - then imagine the force while driving....

The block and the base of the boat takes the load of the leverage instead of the transom, which only takes the weight like this...

sea-kem's picture

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Date Joined: 30/11/09

I always travel with a block

Wed, 2012-08-01 14:06

I always travel with a block of wood to Gnaraloo and use it on the tracks to take the pressure off the ram.

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Dizzy's picture

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Date Joined: 21/02/11

I use a block too, but it can

Wed, 2012-08-01 15:27

I use a block too, but it can still send a lot of stress through the transom if lifted up enough.

 

I was going to look at getting a Transom Saver device for towing, but have never got around to it.

Attaches to the trailer and supports the weight of the leg, taking the stress off the transom.

 

http://www.iboats.com/TRANSOM-SAVER-Swivl-Eze/dm/cart_id.357998196--session_id.781851201--view_id.941502

 

Was always a bit skeptical of if they'd be worth the hassle...... I mean how much damage can towing do on a nice riding trailer trailer with good suspension ??

A full throttle holeshot is likely to put more stress into it......... and even going through short sharp chop is going to shake the shit out of it more than the average road ?

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Engine up

Wed, 2012-08-01 15:54

Engine up with motor lock on.So all the pressure is on the lock.

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Date Joined: 21/02/08

Some of those locks are very

Wed, 2012-08-01 17:27

Some of those locks are very puny, I don't even think that zuke rates theirs for travel.

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grayzeee's picture

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Date Joined: 09/07/09

down for driveway and up on

Wed, 2012-08-01 17:36

down for driveway and up on wooden block for travelling

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If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am. 

fisho-ron's picture

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Date Joined: 26/09/09

now if all you guys had a

Wed, 2012-08-01 18:03

now if all you guys had a etec you wouldnt need a block of wood!!!

1 thing brp did right and thats the travel locks they have in place in aprox the same angle as a block of wood does.

 

and yes down when at home so the rams are in the housing as much as poss.

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Date Joined: 10/06/09

i use a block of wood all the

Wed, 2012-08-01 19:25

i use a block of wood all the time

i thought the theroey of it was it loads the hydrolics  a little and it makes them last longer was told its bad to leave hydrolics with out pressure

now a question to all that dont use block of wood does your out board droop say you set your trim then set anchor for 3 hourrs when you take off again has the out board drooped down ?

my old yammy  used to do this but was 10 years old

look at the big tipper trucks they always have the bin up half way when parked up for any lenght of time

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getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.

willy2668's picture

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 I use one of these best

Wed, 2012-08-01 19:33

 I use one of these best thing I ever brought you can buy online they are in the US and on you door step in under 2 weeks 

www.m-Ywedge.com

willy2668's picture

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 I use to use wood but had it

Wed, 2012-08-01 19:34

 I use to use wood but had it fall out a few times not good for the car behind

willy2668's picture

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=THiNwwZ

Wed, 2012-08-01 19:39

 Can't paste the link 

willy2668's picture

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=THiNwwZ

Wed, 2012-08-01 19:40
sea-kem's picture

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When I use the block I still

Wed, 2012-08-01 19:59

When I use the block I still use the ram to pressure the block so it won't fall out. I put it it at an angle just before the trim ram kicks in so just far enough off the ground and not too high so it goes through some Turkey's windscreen that tailgating lol.

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Brucesta's picture

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Date Joined: 29/05/09

 used to leave it up but

Wed, 2012-08-01 21:50

 used to leave it up but after speaking to the mechanic it is now down, problem is i have a very low trailer so it's a pain to get it level. travel on the locks otherwise i'd have no skeg left. It's a hydralic system guys there is probably the same pressure in the rams up as there is down, a mech fitter or someone who works with hydralics could probably answer this better. Surely if it can push a few hundred Kg's up having that come down isn't too bad...

This could be why i'm a comms tech too....

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Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target

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block of wood

Tue, 2012-08-14 07:49

with a hole drilled for a loop of light cord so i cant lose it if it does happen to drop out.........cost $ 0

catchalittle's picture

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Date Joined: 04/09/08

same here is tilted up when

Tue, 2012-08-14 08:33

same here is tilted up when not in use and put a sizeable block of wood

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Nathan

Dhuvinile's picture

Posts: 228

Date Joined: 13/05/12

 When in the driveway have

Tue, 2012-08-14 22:45

 When in the driveway have the motor cowling in a horizontal position. This will allow th oil to sit naturally in the engine sump and leg