Power Trim And Tilt - Mercury 40 FourStroke Maintenance And Installation Manual

FEATURES AND CONTROLS

Power Trim and Tilt

Your outboard has a trim/tilt control called power trim. This enables the
operator to easily adjust the position of the outboard by pressing the trim
switch. Moving the outboard in closer to the boat transom is called trimming in
or down. Moving the outboard further away from the boat transom is called
trimming out or up. The term trim generally refers to the adjustment of the
outboard within the first 20° range of travel. This is the range used while
operating your boat on plane. The term tilt is generally used when referring to
adjusting the outboard further up out of the water. With the engine turned off,
the outboard can be tilted out of the water. At low idle speed, the outboard can
also be tilted up past the trim range to permit, for example, shallow water
operation.
a
b
POWER TRIM OPERATION
With most boats, operating around the middle of the trim range will give
satisfactory results. However, to take full advantage of the trimming capability
there may be times when you choose to trim your outboard all the way in or
out. Along with an improvement in some performance aspects comes a greater
responsibility for the operator, and this is being aware of some potential control
hazards.
The most significant control hazard is a pull or torque that is felt on the steering
wheel or tiller handle. This steering torque results from the outboard trimmed so
that the propeller shaft is not parallel to the water surface.
Trimming the outboard beyond a neutral steering condition may result in a
pull on the steering wheel or tiller handle and loss of boat control. Maintain
control of the boat if trimming beyond a neutral steering condition.
Consider the following lists carefully.
eng
c
d
28520
WARNING
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29
a - Remote control trim
switch
b - Panel mount trim
switch
c - Tilt range of travel
d - Trim range of travel