25HP Mercury tilt pin problem

[RichieG]

Hi all,

I have a problem with the tilt pin locking mechanism on my 2003 25 HP tiller controlled, electric start Mercury outboard. This is a maunaul type tilt pin, where you stick the pin in one of several holes, depending on your weight distribution - no power trim on this engine. When the mechanism was working properly, and the motor was down on the tilt pin (i.e.in running position) and in "forward", the motor would be able to tilt up. This is (as I'm sure you know) to allow the motor to tilt up freely if the lower section hits anything while on the trailer or running on the water. Now I've noticed that the motor is always locked down onto the tilt pin regardless of gear position (reverse, neutral, forward). I noticed a linkage that goes from the gear shifter on the tiller handle, down through a casing,of sorts, that ultimately seems to disengage the tilt pin. Only in my case now, the linkage doesn't seem to have enough travel to disengage the pin. My question is whether there is an adjustment that can be performed on the linkage to get the thing to operate again. It look darn near impossible to get to - at least when the motor is on the boat. I'm very handy working on mechanisms , but have no experience with outboards. Thanks for any advise you can give me !!

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 25HP Mercury tilt pin problem

The reverse cam on the bottom shift shaft has a raise on it so when in reverse it lifts the rod to swing the upper clamp down to lock the motor. For whatever reason the rod appears to be stuck in that position. The Cam may have busted down there and jammed the shaft in an upwards locked position. Unless there is something eles keeping the shaft from returning to the lower position. You may have to take down the lower unit to get the cam or whats left of it out of there and get a new or used cam. Because the motor is locked down you may hae to remove the long pin that holds the clamp on the swing arm bracket in order to get the engine to tilt up

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 25HP Mercury tilt pin problem

No cam on the 25s... They shift up/down, not rotationally...

Take the motor off the boat and see if the linkage is better seen in the clamp bracket area. Might find something bent or broken.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 25HP Mercury tilt pin problem

Sorry My bad

 

[Boat Tiger]

MOD EDIT - Thanks for the redirect. :facepalm:

 

[flyingscott]

Has the waterpump been replaced recently? There are 2 ears on the shift shaft. On those ears rests a washer the pulls the linkage up when shifting. Make sure the washer is there.

 

[Chinewalker]

Six year old post. Let it be...