tilt and trim....whats the difference

hughybabes

Cadet
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
18
Would someone please tell me the difference between tilt and trim......I have always thought that it was a matter of degree; that trim is used when under way to get optimum results and tilt is when you lift the motor up when trailering.
Some posts i have read seem to suggest there is more to it.
I have a 2000 model 50 hp Johnson 2 stroke.
 
Last edited:

miker-gr

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Messages
76
Re: tilt and trim....whats the difference

On my evinrude 90 ocean pro the trim use 2 cylinders while tilt use a separate one.Also when out of trim range the engine work only on slow rpm.
 

jevery

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
538
Re: tilt and trim....whats the difference

I think you're definition's accurate. If there's more to it, I've never figured it out.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: tilt and trim....whats the difference

you are pretty much accurate, the trim is moves the motor slowly, so you can get the proper attitude of the boat. after you get higher, the movement speeds up to tilt the motor all the way up, for trolling, beaching, trailering.
 

Dhadley

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 4, 2001
Messages
16,978
Re: tilt and trim....whats the difference

It's not really a matter of how fast it moves the motor but how much pressure it takes. There are some trim units that move quicker than tilt units.

The trim range is a given number of degrees of travel from full negative (in) to full positive (out) and the trim will move the motor at speed (maximum forward thrust). That travel varies from model to model. At a given point more trim may be dangerous. At that point the trim ram(s) are at full travel. The tilt range does not have the pressure to move the motor further unless there is little or no forward thrust from the prop. IE - at some point above a fast idle in gear the forward thrust will overcome the hydraulic oil pressure thru valves and the motor will return to the top of the trim range.

There are many styles of T-N-T units. There are tilt only units too which have no trim range.

On recreational motors the trim range is relatively slow by design. On some boats you don't want a quick, long travel. Still, some folks end up on their head by over trimming even with a "slow" travel. On some boats in some circumstances a quick in movement can get you in trouble too.
 
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