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Whenever I am towing, I lift motor and use a transom saver. As soon as I start moving, the motor usually turns completely one way or another, yet most other boats I see are able to keep motor straight. Do they tie their motor in place. I was wondering if with the motor turned, does it put much pressure on front of lower unit, since where it fits into the v of transom saver does not move? The motor is a 90hp 4 stroke.
Thanks:
xcal

When you trim motor down onto transom saver wait until the motor labours a bit and that will put more down pressure on the transom saver and will stop the motor from turning. You are sort of locking the motor down. Try this and see if it helps.

Mikemicropterus:
I have tried this and it does not make a difference.
xcal

Do you have hydraulic stearing? This happens alot with this type of stearing if any presure is lost in the hose the motor will turn.
I have the same problem and I took 2 pieces of large rubber hose and cut them to fit on the stearing arm on both sides of the motor. This supports the motor and keeps it staight.
Good luck and let me know how you made out.
Cheers
JP

The transom saver that came with my boat did this. I purchased a high quality saver and it fixed the problem.

-sheldon

JP and eye tracker:
JP : I don't think steering is hydralic. The boat is a 18ft Legend. As far as I know the steering is controlled by a cable.
Eye Tracker: I Paid about $80 for transom saver. Don't know if this is considered a cheap one or not. I used this transom saver for a 75hp 2 stroke and encountered the same problem. The V where the lower unit sits in when lowered is not too deep, but this was the size of transom saver that was recommended for the size of motor.
xcal

I have the same problem on my 169 princecraft all that i do is put the engine down on the transom saver and before i start driving i bungee the steering wheel to the throttle (you can bungee to anything that is close). Problem solved this is the 2nd boat i had that did this exact same thing. good luck

Cheapy: motor will tip


The Good Design:


G

I have the bottom picture type on my 115 4s - motor's always straight

Is this a merc and how long is the transom saver?

I have the same problem,on long trips I used a bungee cord on the steering wheel.Drive me nuts seeing the motor turn to one side.

I have a Merc but my transom saver is nothing like the ones illustrated above.It mounts through a whole on a bracket attached to the trailer.The top part does not clamp on the motor. Its about 3 feet long.

Ron

A bungee cord from steering wheel around seat pedistal & back did the trick for me.

Graembo wrote: The Good Design:


G

The one I have for my boat is very similar to this one. The end that mounts to the trailer is differant (a U-bracket and pin). The motor end is the same. It seems to work very well as long as I snug the hydrolics down .

Guys:
Thanks for the info. Glad to see I was not the only one with this problem!
xcal

Laurentian Marine outfitted us with this type and narry a problem.