Outboard Motor Installation - Mercury 50 User Manual

OUTBOARD MOTOR INSTALLATION

AWARNING
-
DO NOT OVERPOWER Most boats are
rated and certified for the maximum horse-
power capabilities of the boat. Refer to the
boat "Certification Plate" for the maximum
horsepower timit. If i n doubt, contact your
dealer.
IMPORTANT: For proper boat operation,
position the outboard on the boat transom
i n relation to the boat bottom and accord-
ing to procedures explained in the "Out-
board Motor lnstallation Manual."
LIFTING OUTBOARD
After outboard removal, DO NOT turn out-
board upside down or lay on its side. Water
could enter powerhead causing damage to
internal engine components.
"Finger grip wellsnare located at the top
rear and alcrng both srdes of the bottom
cowl.
TRANSOM HEIGHT
WE DO NOT recommend outboard mount-
ing heights i n excess of 22-112 in. (572mm).
Excessive mounting heights require that
extreme care be taken to ensure proper
water flow to water intake ports for engine
cooling.
Proper transom height is important for
best boating performance. The gear hous-
ing anti-ventilation plate should be parallel
to and at the same level as the boat bottom.
MOUNTING OUTBOARD ON TRANSOM
Before operating, outboard(s) MUST BE
SECURED to boat transom with four 1/2 in.
diameter bolts and locknuts. as follows:
2 bolts must be installed thru upper mount-
ing holes and 2 bolts thru lower mounting
holes. Installation must be water-tight, and
outboard should be checked for tightness
on the transom during operation. Failure to
bolt outboard to transom (usig 4 bolts and
locknuts, as shown) may result i n damage
to boat and/or loss of outboard and possi-
ble injury to occupants of boat.
Marine sealer must be used on shanks of
mounting bolts to make a water-tight
installation.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT use an impact
driver when trghtening transom mounting
bolts.
Place outtoard on center line of boat
transom and drill through transom using
upper bolt holes in each set of transom
bracket mounting holes as guides.
Secure outboard to transom with
bolts, locknut, and washers prov~ded.
Trim angie of the lower unit has a dis-
tinct effect or: performance and handling.
On some boats, due to the transom angle,
trimming the outboard down (IN) too far
may result in ilndesirable or unsafe steer-
ing conditions at planing speeds. If these
steering c c ~ r ~ d i t i o n s are experienced,
under no circ,umstances should the out-
board be opeeated without a trim adjust-
ment pin and without the pin adjusted i n
the proper holes t o prevent unsafe han-
dling characteristics. See your Authorized
Dealer.
IMPORTANT: Propeller shaft tilt will affect
boat performance. With the outboard tilted
in, propeller force will make the boat want
to go into a right-hand turn. The situation
reverses when the lower unit is tilted out
well past vertical. The operator must resist
this force to keep the boat on a straight
course. Refer to TRIM TAB ADJUST-
MENT.