Who??? Me???? writes:

How far can you safely trim up the outdrive at low speed on a sterndrive?

I routinely run with the tips of the prop rotating up above the water, such
as when approaching the ramp. You're kind of dog-paddling, and the
steering is unresponsive and unstable (the thrust vector pointing acutely
up in the air), but you can move that way, and it beats dragging the skeg.
On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
.. .
Who??? Me???? writes:

How far can you safely trim up the outdrive at low speed on a sterndrive?

I routinely run with the tips of the prop rotating up above the water,
such
as when approaching the ramp. You're kind of dog-paddling, and the
steering is unresponsive and unstable (the thrust vector pointing acutely
up in the air), but you can move that way, and it beats dragging the skeg.
On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

Better have your u-joints checked often. That's why they have the trim
limit switch. Dan

Danlw writes:

On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

Better have your u-joints checked often. That's why they have the trim
limit switch.

Isn't that the limit I mean?

Richard J Kinch wrote:
Danlw writes:


On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

Better have your u-joints checked often. That's why they have the trim
limit switch.


Isn't that the limit I mean?

It sounds like you are going past the trim range, into the tilt range,
if you are breaking the surface with the prop. This is VERY hard on the
u-joints.

Rob

trainfan1 writes:

Isn't that the limit I mean?

It sounds like you are going past the trim range, into the tilt range,
if you are breaking the surface with the prop. This is VERY hard on the
u-joints.

I see. The Alpha stern drive has two upper limits depending on the switch
applied. Nothing in my user's manual mentioned this being a problem for U-
joints.

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
...
Danlw writes:

On my Mercruiser Alpha unit, that's all the way up in the trailering
position, at the upper limit.

Better have your u-joints checked often. That's why they have the trim
limit switch.

Isn't that the limit I mean?

Not at the trailer position. The trim limit is the point at which you have
to use the trailer up switch. If you ever have a drive off, or see one in a
shop, look at what the full up angle does to the u-joints. It puts a
terrific strain on them to run above the trim limit. Have seen them blown
out, even at idle.
Dan