Just finished installing a 90 HP on my 99 . When I raise the motor it binds on the steering linkage. The motor hits the crossbar that connects the two rudders together. Has anyone else had this problem? Any tried and true remedys? I guess I can always fabricate a new crossbar but I'm hoping there is a quick fix.
mike
Sounds as if the outboard might be mounted too low on the transom. The rule of thumb is to mount an outboard so that the cav-plate runs at, or one inch below, the bottom surface of the hull. Seems as if yours must be 3+ inches below the hull??
Too low mounting of motor also adds the drag of excess metal underwater, and because of thrust geometry, causes a lower top speed. (in effect the prop is trying to lift the bow too much, leveraged at a greater depth below the boat than is optimum. The extra energy spent on lever-lifting the bow is not available to make it go faster. The optimum is just low enough to be buried at speed with the boat planeing, ie. the anti-ventilation plate about an inch below the hull bottom.
Thanks Frank. I went and checked the geometry again and the Anti-cavitation plate is 1-3/8" below the bottom of the hull. The simplest solution is just not raising the motor all the way up with the powertrim and tilt switch. When I go back out, I think I 'll try removing the crossbar and seeing just how much clearance is needed when the motor reaches the full up position. Thanks for the input so far
mike
Sorry opie ... just being a smart @ss.
Alex gave the correct answer. When the motor's mounted too low it creates excess drag, plus it has a less efficient driving vector.
I think 1 to 2 inches below the hull should be no problem, certainly not enough to bother with adjusting the height. So, the main question remains unanswered - are others with the same motor on a 26X having the same problem. Maybe you'll hear, but you didn't say which 90 - Tohatsu?
FrankC - you guys, that cover the bases here on the site, are golden in that without you, my wife and I would not be living our second childhood on our 26X!!! So flail away, it is invigorating and educational. OK.....I went out and measured my cavitation plate and it is 1.5 inches below the transom, so not a problem. (Honda 50hp) But I have a similar 'jamming' of the throttle and shifter cables. The motor gets 1/2 way up and the cables get jammed and finally at 95% up they flip sideways and slip under the steering bar. It can't be good to undergo that stress. I will take a picture and send it here later. I could solve the problem by only taking the motor up 50 to 60 % so it clears the water, but I won't be able to engage the "metal crutch" that holds the motor up. Can I depend on the tilt hydraulics to hold it up while trailering?
Binding cables is a well-known problem for the Honda 50. I don't have a Honda, so I've never been able to really picture the answers that have been offered in previous discussions. It's worth your time to do some searching ... say using the terms [Honda cable], click the button for "all terms."
. When I raise the motor it binds on the steering linkage. The motor hits the crossbar that connects the two rudders together. Has anyone else had this problem? Any tried and true remedys? I guess I can always fabricate a new crossbar but I'm hoping there is a quick fix.
