Engine runs rough when leg is tilted.

[-JR-]

Engine runs smooth (AQ125) until the 270 leg is tilled up . (only has the single electric motor to rase it)
Justed needed it up when I launched the boat and trailered it back up at the end of the day.
Engine sounded like it was running on 2 or 3 cylinders.
I am thinking the u joints are bad. Did have a look at them 2 years ago and they were like brand new .
Engine runs fine at idle and high speed and no shake at all when leg is down only when up !
Any ideas ?

 

[alldodge]

Motor should never be run with the drive in trailer position. In any case pull the drive and have a look

 

[Maclin]

As AllDodge posted, never start/run the engine at full tilt.

Just thinking about potential electrical system problem here, and wanted some clarification. Does the rough running start as soon as the tilt motor is engaged from fully lowered position? What happens if the tilt lever/button is released at just a small tilt angle, does the engine clear up? Again if you are going to tilt up to trailer position turn the engine off first. And do not start the engine in trailer position.

Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

I am thinking the u joints are bad. Did have a look at them 2 years ago and they were like brand new .

Ayuh,.... If you make it a habit of runnin' the motor with the drive in the tilt range, I'm pretty sure the u-joints are gone, or the yokes are stretched,....

They can't be run at such a severe angle, it tears things up,....

 

[-JR-]

Been running it in the up position at a very low speed for over 20 years and the joints looked good the other year .
I don't see why I can not run in the up position as other units can when fitted with hydraulic trim.
Just a thought ,maybe when in the up right, the exhaust hose gets pinched and gives back pressure making engine run ruff.
Will find out this weekend ,when i pull it apart.

 

[Maclin]

At full tilt up the ujoints will eventually rub thru the bottom of the bellows.

 

[jimmbo]

One of the U-joints may be stiff, only way to find out is to inspect them. I replaced my gimbal bearing this spring, the bearing felt fine, but there is less vibration when I run in shallow water

 

[alldodge]

I don't see why I can not run in the up position

You can its your boat

 

[QBhoy]

They will always sound like a bag of bolts when the drive is up.
To be avoided at all costs !

 

[dennis461]

...
Just a thought ,maybe when in the up right, the exhaust hose gets pinched and gives back pressure making engine run ruff.
.

This get my vote. Especially if it is weak and internal wire stiffener has corrooded.

 

[Bondo]

I don't see why I can not run in the up position as other units can when fitted with hydraulic trim.
Just a thought ,maybe when in the up right, the exhaust hose gets pinched and gives back pressure making engine run ruff.

Ayuh,.... Hyd. trim or not, the u-joints are extremely stressed in the tilt range,....
It stretches the yokes too,....

'n when the drive is trimmed up high, the exhaust bellows is stretched out, not collapsed,....

 

[-JR-]

Just pulled the head off. Half of the Joints are very stiff. But no wiggling.
I thing I Caught it just in time.
Will be replacing the joints with grease nipple style joints .

So what does one do when you need to launch or trailer your boat in a shallow lake.
Does one need to use a kicker .Since you can not have the tilt up when running the engine.

 

[captmello]

You can tilt it up about halfway at idle speed without damage. Not all the way up. Newer controls have a trailering button that keeps the outdrive from tilting further than it should while running. The old Volvo's don't have the button, nor a trim gauge so its hard to know unless you look. You can listen for the exhaust to get louder as it comes up,

 

[-JR-]

Thanks Captmello.....
I've been very lucky ...
Been running engine for over 20 years with the leg all the way up when going in shallow.But always at a low speed.
Have to stop going to these lakes that have a shallow boat launch.

Joins are out of leg now,all are dry. Will be getting a set with grease nipples so I can grease on every service

 

[dennis461]

... .

So what does one do when you need to launch or trailer your boat in a shallow lake.
Does one need to use a kicker .Since you can not have the tilt up when running the engine.

I have a similar situation at my nearest boat ramp.
Rocks (NJ idea to prevent ramp undercutting from current) and low water at low tide, tired of getting prop repaired..
I have a LONG pole with a foot on it to keep it from sticking in mud.

At low tide I push out into the deep before lowering the leg.
And I've already parked my tow vehicle.
Since I trailer, I've already run the engine at home to make sure all is good.

 

[fhhuber]

One answer to getting into deeper water so you can lower the drive is to "kedge out" with a mushroom anchor. Toss the anchor out as far as you can, and pull the boat toward it. Repeat as needed.
Works better/easier with smaller, lighter boats of course.
It avoids putting a trolling motor on some boats which are not used for fishing.

I like having 2 anchors for "playing games" like this. With wind and current you might need to leave one anchor holding while you toss the other.