1983 Mercury 50 hp Control question

[DeepCMark58A]

When I run my motor at higher throttle I have to tell people to brace when I come off throttle. I went thru my O & M manual I found the adjustment for the control handle friction screw. Little concerning how the manual reads on the adjustment. The manual actually reads To decrease control handle friction, thread the friction screw "out" (counter clockwise). (DO NOT thread friction screw all the way "out"

So naturally I want to avoid that complication. Is this adjustment best done in the water? I was always told not to shift a non running outboard.

 

[The Force power]

You can either running or not.
When NOT running make sure it goes into full forward gear (you may have to turn the Prop to line-up the dog-clutch)

When lined-up the control-handle will go smoothly from neutral to full forward & back to neutral; then adjust your friction-screw to your liking (DO NOT go in reverse, you will have to turn the prop to line-up)

 

[racerone]

You can shift that motor ( not running ) from neutral to forward and back to neutral all day long with no damage.------- You MUST NOT shift from neutral to REVERSE on this motor if it is not running.------Turn the prop to shift to reverse when motor is not running.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Thank you for the information.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Going to give it a shot this afternoon. Only 4 more months till ice out.

 

[The Force power]

You can shift that motor ( not running ) from neutral to forward and back to neutral all day long with no damage.------- You MUST NOT shift from neutral to REVERSE on this motor if it is not running.------Turn the prop to shift to reverse when motor is not running.

Did I say it wrong?

 

[racerone]

No need to turn the prop on that motor to shift into forward.----On some motors you do have to turn the prop when shifting to forward.