Tilt/Trim Control Switches - Four winns FREEDOM Owner's Manual

Remember that most boats react very slowly to trim
tabs. Often boat owners do not give trim tabs time to
work. Press the trim tab switches for only one second
at a time and then allow some time for the boat to react.
If the boat is still listing after a minute or two, press the
trim tab switch again for a one second interval. The
labels on the trim tab switches indicate what you want
your boat to do, not what you want the tabs to do.
It is a good idea to take your boat out onto open water
shortly after you get it and experiment with the trim
tabs. After you get your boat onto plane, set the tabs in
various positions and note how your boat reacts. This
will give you a feel for how the trim tabs work.
It is possible to extend the cylinder life expectancy on
your trim tabs. To do this, keep the cylinders retracted
while at dockside. Press both trim tab controls down
until tabs reach their full up position.
B. Tilt/Trim Control Switches
NOTE: Trim refers to the angle of the lower unit in rela-
tion to the bottom of the boat. With respect to trim-
ming, the words in, down, under, and forward, have the
same meaning as do up, out, and aft.
1. The standard trim control switch is located on the
control lever handle.
2. The switch controls the position of the stern drive.
Proper trim is very important in boating.
3. In the case of low or heavy bow attitude, the boat
tends to "plow" (Figure T3. The lower unit is trimmed
too far under or forward. Trim the unit UP (out) to
correct this situation.
4. If the bow is too high, the boat tends to "porpoise"
(Figure T5). The drive unit is trimmed up or out too
far. Trim DN (in) to correct.
5. A good practice is to get underway (especially when
fully loaded or pulling a skier) with the unit trimmed
all the way DN (under). After the boat is on plane,
adjust the trim out slightly to obtain the proper bow
attitude and engine speed.
6. Trim also affects propeller selection and fuel effi-
ciency. All models should be "propped" to be in the
upper half of the maximum rpm range with the boat
lightly loaded and the drive trimmed up to maxi-
mum. This configuration allows the engine to oper-
Freedom™/Horizon™ Owner's Manual
ate within the recommended rpm range with a heavy
load.
The power unit should never be trimmed up to a
point where the propeller cavitates (or slips). A rapid
increase in engine rpm's is evidence of cavitation.
If this occurs accidentally while running at full
throttle, immediately lower the drive trim and re-
duce the throttle until the slipping stops. If neces-
sary, have your dealer reset the trim limit switch (if
provided) to avoid overtrimming in the future.
If the prop slips at lower planing speeds, the drive
may be trimmed too high. Immediately lower the
drive unit until the prop grabs again to restore effi-
ciency.
7. Trimming out, in addition to raising the bow, also
lifts the boat higher, gaining speed because less
hull is in the water.
8. The trailering position of some stern drives is con-
trolled by a separate switch on the dash switch
panel or throttle/shift control. Do not activate this
switch while engine is running. Doing so can
severely damage the lower unit and engine.
NOTE: Refer to the control instructions regarding the
power trim controls installed on your boat.
Figures T3-T5: Trimming the Boat with Outdrive
Section T
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