Trim Tab Adjustment - Mercury 40 4-Stroke Manual

FEATURES & CONTROLS

Trim Tab Adjustment

Propeller steering torque will cause your boat to pull in one direction. This steering torque is a normal
result from your outboard not trimmed with the propeller shaft parallel to the water surface. The trim tab
can help to compensate for this steering torque in many cases and can be adjusted within limits to reduce
any unequal steering effort.
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NOTE: Trim tab adjustment will have little effect reducing steering torque if the outboard is installed with
the anti-ventilation plate approximately 50 mm (2 in.) or more above the boat bottom.
MODELS WITHOUT POWER TRIM
Operate your boat at normal cruising speed trimmed to desired position by installing the tilt pin in the
desired tilt pin hole. Turn your boat left and right and note the direction the boat turns more easily.
If adjustment is necessary, loosen trim tab bolt and make small adjustments at a time. If the boat turns
more easily to the left, move the trailing edge of trim tab to the left. If the boat turns more easily to the
right move the trailing edge of trim tab to the right. Retighten bolt and retest.
MODELS WITH POWER TRIM
Operate your boat at normal cruising speed, trimmed to desired position. Turn your boat left and right
and note the direction the boat turns more easily.
If adjustment is necessary, loosen trim tab bolt and make small adjustments at a time. If the boat turns
more easily to the left, move the trailing edge of trim tab to the left. If the boat turns more easily to the
right move the trailing edge of trim tab to the right. Retighten bolt and retest.
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