How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

[WhereBob]

Outdrives are fairly new to me so I have always wondered if there is an easier way to tell when I have lowered my outdrive (1990 mercruiser alpha one) into its proper position. I have always just lowered it and go back and look at it, lower some more and go check, etc. Even then I wonder if I do have it down where it needs to be.
When I bring it up the motor changes pitch and then I know its up but how do I know when its down all the way and in position without stressing the tilt motor?

Any help or comments appreciated

Thanks

 

[45Auto]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

You can always look at your trim gauge .......

Or you can listen for the change in sound of the pump motor.

 

[skargo]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

I've found I can tell at speed where it needs to be by vibrations underfoot, or lack thereof when properly trimmed. My gauge seems iffy at best, if it's in the green, it's somewhere between trimmed in and out

Why are you worried, if it's in the trim range, and not up via the trailer switch or the transom switch, it is in the water and you won't harm it running it.

 

[WhereBob]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

You can always look at your trim gauge .......
.

Don't have one

 

[ziggy]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

if your referring to when the boat is static in the water. and you've no trim gauge. i think yer gonna have to go look. on my trim, i understand what your saying about no change in tone from when full down or half down. on mine if you listen close, i think i can hear the difference, maybe. if i want it full down. i go look too. and i've got a gauge. if your doing this static. you could have someone watch the drive from full up to full down and time it??? if your just wanting it down to be able to start it in the lake. it don't need to be all the way down anyways. anywhere within the trim limit wil be ok to start. assuming the water intake is below the water surface.

 

[WhereBob]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

Why are you worried, if it's in the trim range

I'm worried about lowering it full down but still cranking on the trim motor and breaking or burning up something when its already down all the way.

if your referring to when the boat is static in the water. and you've no trim gauge. i think yer gonna have to go look.

Yeah I'm talking about when I putting it in the water and getting ready to go and then drive off.

you could have someone watch the drive from full up to full down and time it???

It all depends on my battery power. Full charge it drops fast, after its been sitting a while its a little slower.
I'm sure with time I will get a feel for it, just don't want to fry a motor until I do. (its a new trim motor by the way, I just put in, the old one was on the way out when I bought the boat last fall).

Thanks for all the help so far everyone

Sorry about the dumb Q's, like I said its all new to me. My old boat was an outboard with no trim motors I just moved a handle and it dropped slowly to full down position all by itself.

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

45 auto gave some good advice about the sound of the pump. My current boat also has an Alpha1 drive and there is a distinct difference in tone/sound of the pump motor when the drive is fully lowered. I lower the trim until I hear the tone change then release the trim button and have never had any problems with "burning" anything up.

Have you tried listening for a difference in the sound?

 

[WhereBob]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

I lower the trim until I hear the tone change then release the trim button and have never had any problems with "burning" anything up.

Have you tried listening for a difference in the sound?

Nope I haven't listened for fear of over cranking the motor and have always just stopped and checked. I will try it next time out, Thanks.

 

[skargo]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

Nope I haven't listened for fear of over cranking the motor and have always just stopped and checked. I will try it next time out, Thanks.

Yep, I hear the change in tone and know I am there. I don't think you will hurt it reaching it's limit for a second or two.

Good luck!

 

[WhereBob]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

Yep, I hear the change in tone and know I am there. I don't think you will hurt it reaching it's limit for a second or two.

Good luck!

Took it out today and dropped her down till I heard a change in tone. That will work, thanks everyone.

 

[skargo]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

Took it out today and dropped her down till I heard a change in tone. That will work, thanks everyone.

Wooohooo, I bet you're relieved.

 

[WhereBob]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

Thanks Scott, yeah a heck of a lot easier thats for sure.

BTW I like your truck, I'm a huge Dodge truck fan!

Here's my baby hitched to my boat (just to keep with the boat theme, lol)

 

[skargo]

Re: How to know when my outdrive in down all the way?

Thanks, mine is a rust bucket, BUT the drivetrain is modified pretty heavily, it's FAST, will tow a buttload, and gets me 18mpg daily driving.

Yours looks great. Word of advice, open your doors, and pull the bottom egdge weather stripping up and look at the overlap where the weld the door skin on. I used to run a body shop at a Dodge dealer and MANY corrode there, and by the time you can see it, it's too late. The only fix is new doors, that's why both my front doors are rusted bad if you really look. Of course, we saw only 2 trucks with a rear door rust issue, one being mine.

I'll buy some new sheetmetal after they get real bad. Goona need bedsides too.