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My god, the more we think we're getting close to getting her in the water the more: a) we find to do; b) we realize how little we know, and c) we really wish some of you lived in Hawaii. I get location envy when I see you all meeting up for a sail and "oh, I'll just check that out for you next weekend.." At any rate, another question for the experts:

Our steering linkage on the motor bends the arms (flat plate arms, not the tubing) when we tilt the motor all the way up. It's definitely not right but we're not positive what to do with it. Are we missing a piece?

Good question. Sorry I don't have a good answer, other than take linkage pics to a welding & or outboard guru & see if they can come up with a better scheme. Also what HP is your motor?

Speaking of location envy, any of us would gladly swap locations with you. -Go to all the meets u want

Looks like you have the correct general arrangement. Is your center link bolt loose enough to allow the joint to rotate as you tilt? Also, looks like you need a longer bolt at the motor connection, with a jamb nut. My linkage has a 3/8 to 1/2 inch gap at the motor connection. Yours looks too tight. If you don't sort it out, I can get a pic after work.

In my opinion, the Blue Water Yachts motor quick disconnect is one of the best mods you can make. I allows you to raise the motor in the centered position and disconnect it from the steering linkage. Steering feedback is much lighter and much less wear and tear on the steering linkage. This will solve your problem at a reasonable price.

Gazmn wrote:Also what HP is your motor?

It's a 50hp Tohatsu

I like where we are- I just wish more of you were down here!!

Estate Sail wrote:In my opinion, the Blue Water Yachts motor quick disconnect is one of the best mods you can make. I allows you to raise the motor in the centered position and disconnect it from the steering linkage. Steering feedback is much lighter and much less wear and tear on the steering linkage. This will solve your problem at a reasonable price.

Thanks- it does look like a sluck set up!

Jimmyt wrote:

Looks like you have the correct general arrangement. Is your center link bolt loose enough to allow the joint to rotate as you tilt? Also, looks like you need a longer bolt at the motor connection, with a jamb nut. My linkage has a 3/8 to 1/2 inch gap at the motor connection. Yours looks too tight. If you don't sort it out, I can get a pic after work.

You're right!! I think that may be at least part of our problem. We'll check it out. Thanks a bunch.

Strictly backyard, but you can see how the narrow motor tang, and the slop at the bolt allow tilting without binding. The bolt is threaded through the motor tang.

Looks like a good place for a ball end tie rod...

You have the stock linkage. Mine bent up like a pretzel - yours is on the way. The BWY assembly is essentially the same I tried to buy the parts for - but for some reason, the QD ends were out of stock when I went to buy the parts, my guess is the vendor supplying BWY bought them all. So I installed the BWY item and all has been good since then. Honestly, the stock setup if on a car would have been subject to a safety recall.