Beating the ##** out of my kicker, need ideas.

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Beating the ##** out of my kicker, need ideas.

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Beating the ##** out of my kicker, need ideas.

humboldt jim posted 06-17-2002 08:20 PM ET (US)
1983 22 ft. Outrage, 225 Optimax and 9.9 4-stroke Evinrude is what I run. My kicker, in the tilt position while I am running, has bounced up and down to the point where the pin holding it up has sheared off. Since then I have tried a number of solutions to hold it up, including straps, wood blocks, and replacement pins. All of my techniques either are putting too much pressure on my hoood, and popping it off, or not succesful in holding up the engine. Have any of you fine boaters had a similar problem and found a solution. Don't tell me to slow down, ain't gonna happen!!
First to the Fish, Back-Breaker out.
Tom W Clark posted 06-17-2002 08:36 PM ET (US)
humboldt jim,
You need to buy an OMC (not sure what they're calling them now) trailering bracket for this motor. About $20. It replaces the tilt pin and allows you to use the lock down mechanism when the motor is in the tilt position.
Nobody running a Whaler with a kicker in an even moderate chop should be without one.
The first kicker equipped Whaler I had was a Montauk and I sheared the tilt lock screw off in the motor mounting bracket on one of the very first days of running this rig with its new power. It took about six hours of choppy running to do this. Every boat I have had since has these brackets installed on the kicker in lieu of the tilt pin.
And yes, It also works for trailering with the kicker in the tilted position.
A “bouncing” motor, whether during trailering or running, is a sure sign something is about to break. You cannot rely upon the tilt mechanism alone to hold up a kicker while running or trailering. Secure it!
ChrisCT posted 06-17-2002 10:02 PM ET (US)
Thx for wisdom again Tom. I realize I am without something else though... If anyone sees a link or pic please post it so I can figure out the part you are speaking of. Haven't seen mine bounce yet but I am sure it will - Moore's law you know. I will keep an eye on mine nest time out on hard conditions.
skookum point posted 06-18-2002 01:06 AM ET (US)
Tom - I too could use some help visualizing the bracket you mentioned. Just mounted a kicker (6hp yamaha) on my 15. Haven't run it yet or trailered but I'll bet I'm gonna need some bounce prevention hardware.
Thanks, John
humboldt jim posted 06-18-2002 11:47 AM ET (US)
Aah Tom, sage advice indeed.... I will order one today! Thank you.
Tom W Clark posted 06-18-2002 12:03 PM ET (US)
OK guys, I've tried to describe this thing before with limited success but I'll try again here. (By the way, I have not found an online source; I just go down to my Johnson/Evinrude dealer and buy them, but it's been a few years and I am not even sure they are still made.)
The bracket is very simple. It is made of 1/4" stainless steel rod that is bent into a kind or squared loop.
Imagine the shape of the bow locker cover on a Classic Outrage 18. It is like a trapezoid with the lower corners lopped off vertically. This is the rough shape of the trailering bracket for all the OMC motors 6 hp - 15 hp.
The base of this trapezoid is the part that slips into the motor mounting bracket in lieu of the tilt pin. This bracket is now free to swing up and engage the motors lock down while in the up position by clamping onto the top of the trapezoid, or it can be swung down so the motor lock down clamps onto the lower part of the trapezoid which is serving as the tilt pin.
It really is far more simple than my description. There is one caveat I have however: This bracket will not last forever. The weight of a kicker in really rough water will eventually bend the bracket to the point where it does not work smoothly.
I typically had to replace it every three or four years. I have tried to straighten them out but the stainless does not bend easily and it was always just easier to buy a new one. Admittedly, I ran my Whalers very hard as witnessed by Cetacea page 40 where you can just see my 9.9 locked in position on this bracket.
lhg posted 06-18-2002 03:45 PM ET (US)
In my 1970 BW cataolg, Fisher/Dougherty say that the kicker must be "lashed down against the tilt bracket stops" to prevent problems. I just used a rubber bungee strap, and that worked well for me.
rsgwynn1 posted 06-18-2002 09:53 PM ET (US)
I bought one of those "gorilla cables"--plastic coated wire with a built-in combination lock--at Lowe's. It secures the kicker to the rail that holds the "rocket launcher" on my 22 Revenge Cuddy. Just the right length to keep the motor snugly in place. Also provides security against theft.
NEVER SCARED posted 06-20-2002 02:38 PM ET (US)
After my kicker fell down a few times, I found a really simple solution. BUNGEE cords! The reason the kicker falls is cause it jumps up and out of the thingamajigger. Tilt the engine up, hook one end of the bungee cord near the prop, and hook the other end to the flat bar that hold the engine up. The cord pulls at the bar at all times and prevents the pin from falling out of the slot. Using this method, my kicker never fell since.
Bigshot posted 06-20-2002 02:59 PM ET (US)
My kicker never falls nor burns any gas.....Life is great with a wife and a paddle:)
larimore posted 06-20-2002 10:24 PM ET (US)
My Honda 15 tilt mechanism failed from bouncing while trailering - I always put it in the down position while trailering after that - Never had a problem on the boat

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Beating the ## out of my kicker, need ideas.**
humboldt jim	posted 06-17-2002 08:20 PM ET (US) 1983 22 ft. Outrage, 225 Optimax and 9.9 4-stroke Evinrude is what I run. My kicker, in the tilt position while I am running, has bounced up and down to the point where the pin holding it up has sheared off. Since then I have tried a number of solutions to hold it up, including straps, wood blocks, and replacement pins. All of my techniques either are putting too much pressure on my hoood, and popping it off, or not succesful in holding up the engine. Have any of you fine boaters had a similar problem and found a solution. Don't tell me to slow down, ain't gonna happen!! First to the Fish, Back-Breaker out.
Tom W Clark	posted 06-17-2002 08:36 PM ET (US) humboldt jim, You need to buy an OMC (not sure what they're calling them now) trailering bracket for this motor. About $20. It replaces the tilt pin and allows you to use the lock down mechanism when the motor is in the tilt position. Nobody running a Whaler with a kicker in an even moderate chop should be without one. The first kicker equipped Whaler I had was a Montauk and I sheared the tilt lock screw off in the motor mounting bracket on one of the very first days of running this rig with its new power. It took about six hours of choppy running to do this. Every boat I have had since has these brackets installed on the kicker in lieu of the tilt pin. And yes, It also works for trailering with the kicker in the tilted position. A “bouncing” motor, whether during trailering or running, is a sure sign something is about to break. You cannot rely upon the tilt mechanism alone to hold up a kicker while running or trailering. Secure it!
ChrisCT	posted 06-17-2002 10:02 PM ET (US) Thx for wisdom again Tom. I realize I am without something else though... If anyone sees a link or pic please post it so I can figure out the part you are speaking of. Haven't seen mine bounce yet but I am sure it will - Moore's law you know. I will keep an eye on mine nest time out on hard conditions.
skookum point	posted 06-18-2002 01:06 AM ET (US) Tom - I too could use some help visualizing the bracket you mentioned. Just mounted a kicker (6hp yamaha) on my 15. Haven't run it yet or trailered but I'll bet I'm gonna need some bounce prevention hardware. Thanks, John
humboldt jim	posted 06-18-2002 11:47 AM ET (US) Aah Tom, sage advice indeed.... I will order one today! Thank you.
Tom W Clark	posted 06-18-2002 12:03 PM ET (US) OK guys, I've tried to describe this thing before with limited success but I'll try again here. (By the way, I have not found an online source; I just go down to my Johnson/Evinrude dealer and buy them, but it's been a few years and I am not even sure they are still made.) The bracket is very simple. It is made of 1/4" stainless steel rod that is bent into a kind or squared loop. Imagine the shape of the bow locker cover on a Classic Outrage 18. It is like a trapezoid with the lower corners lopped off vertically. This is the rough shape of the trailering bracket for all the OMC motors 6 hp - 15 hp. The base of this trapezoid is the part that slips into the motor mounting bracket in lieu of the tilt pin. This bracket is now free to swing up and engage the motors lock down while in the up position by clamping onto the top of the trapezoid, or it can be swung down so the motor lock down clamps onto the lower part of the trapezoid which is serving as the tilt pin. It really is far more simple than my description. There is one caveat I have however: This bracket will not last forever. The weight of a kicker in really rough water will eventually bend the bracket to the point where it does not work smoothly. I typically had to replace it every three or four years. I have tried to straighten them out but the stainless does not bend easily and it was always just easier to buy a new one. Admittedly, I ran my Whalers very hard as witnessed by Cetacea page 40 where you can just see my 9.9 locked in position on this bracket.
lhg	posted 06-18-2002 03:45 PM ET (US) In my 1970 BW cataolg, Fisher/Dougherty say that the kicker must be "lashed down against the tilt bracket stops" to prevent problems. I just used a rubber bungee strap, and that worked well for me.
rsgwynn1	posted 06-18-2002 09:53 PM ET (US) I bought one of those "gorilla cables"--plastic coated wire with a built-in combination lock--at Lowe's. It secures the kicker to the rail that holds the "rocket launcher" on my 22 Revenge Cuddy. Just the right length to keep the motor snugly in place. Also provides security against theft.
NEVER SCARED	posted 06-20-2002 02:38 PM ET (US) After my kicker fell down a few times, I found a really simple solution. BUNGEE cords! The reason the kicker falls is cause it jumps up and out of the thingamajigger. Tilt the engine up, hook one end of the bungee cord near the prop, and hook the other end to the flat bar that hold the engine up. The cord pulls at the bar at all times and prevents the pin from falling out of the slot. Using this method, my kicker never fell since.
Bigshot	posted 06-20-2002 02:59 PM ET (US) My kicker never falls nor burns any gas.....Life is great with a wife and a paddle:)
larimore	posted 06-20-2002 10:24 PM ET (US) My Honda 15 tilt mechanism failed from bouncing while trailering - I always put it in the down position while trailering after that - Never had a problem on the boat