Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

[hpistar25]

i keep hearing people talk about running their I/O boats with the outdrive not all the way down to make a bigger wake. Now i was under the impression that running a outdrive with out it all the way down would break it. i have a omc 5.7l with a OMC 800 stringer outdrive. can anyone give me some insight on this matter so i dont break my boat trying something new??

 

[pigrge]

Re: Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

Outdrives were meant to be trimmed up, to a certain degree. Typically, on mercruiser's for sure, there are trim limit switches that are factory set at a specific distance to allow your outdrive to go to its maximum trimmed up position while underway without doing damage to the u-joints. Sometimes tho, these fail and allow you to go past that position, or if you use the tilt/trailer switch on your control you can go past this pre-set position as well. You typically hear when you have gone too far as you start to lose torque and your prop starts to slip the closer to the surface you get. But the answer to your question is, no, by trimming your outdrive up, to the factory specified limit, it will not damage the unit. It actually makes the entire rig much more efficient. Keep in mind, this is based on my experience with MERCRUISER ONLY. I'm not an OMC guy, but I would only assume they work pretty much the same way.

 

[brick75]

Re: Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

Yeah, what pigrge said. Once you get up on a plane, trimming up gets you going more efficiently. Makes you skim across the top of the water instead of trying to push through it. Not to mention makes you go faster! Play around with it next time you're out. It's usually pretty easy to feel once you hit the sweet spot.

 

[hippie3C]

Re: Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

Yeah, what pigrge said. Once you get up on a plane, trimming up gets you going more efficiently. Make you skim across the top of the water instead of trying to push through it. Not to mention makes you go faster! Play around with it next time you're out. It's usually pretty easy to feel once you hit the sweet spot.

Yeah, this is true! They are ment to be trimmed, but from what I hear the OMC stinger 800 is not the outdrive to break, cause the parts are hard as hell to find. That being said when I take my parents I/O to lake for a session I always trim it up just till the crest of the wake smoothes out were the rider is crossing the wake, it doesn't take much!.

 

[LazzyHoney]

Re: Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

You typically hear when you have gone too far as you start to lose torque and your prop starts to slip the closer to the surface you get. But the answer to your question is, no, by trimming your outdrive up, to the factory specified limit, it will not damage the unit. and I always trim it up just till the crest of the wake smoothes out were the rider is crossing the wake, it doesn't take much ......

 

[wired1236]

Re: Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

You can "break" your outdrive (more specifically the u-joints) if you trip too far UP and continually run the engine, down... no. I doubt he has any sort of limiting switch that won't let him trim too far up while in operation. Read your operator and/or service manual and if you don't have one, get one. Outdrive trims have the ability to be trimmed all the way up for trailoring purposes and they are not to be ran, (even if in neutral), while in the full up position. If you have a trim gauge, it's typically safe to run while 1/4 from the top of the gauge and down. Search the Volvo or Murcruiser forums. You will find many posts on the subject.

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Triming up for bigger wake breaks outdrive unit

The omc 800 does not have u-joints it uses a knuckle & finger mesh style (no that is not the technical name, just my description). Also it has 2 separate systems for trim and tilt. The Tilt system for trailering will lift the outdrive up by a large 1/4 circle gear. The tilt system needs to be fully down to engauge the nuckle and fingers when ever the motor is running otherwise they will wear very quickly and are expensive. The Trim system can be used while underpower. It moves the front of the motor/outdrive unit up/down. So Trim = yes, Tilt = No.

I had one of these about 10 years ago, Great unit but it just got to old...