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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | Just did the break-in hours on the Mercury tiller ProKicker today, and I have a few questions I don't think are addressed in the manual.
1) when trailering, should the tension be increased to keep it from swinging back and forth, and is it best to put the motor in gear to prevent the prop from turning?
2) when not using the kicker and having it trimmed up, should it be in gear to prevent the prop from turning.
3) Should the gas line be removed from the kicker after the day is through?
4) I have the connecting rod so that I can steer the tiller kicker by steering the main motor. For this connecting rod, should the end with the bend close to the end be by the main motor, by the kicker, or does it not matter? Do folks leave this bar connected even when the kicker is trimmed up?
TIA, Mike
Edited by ESfishOX 4/20/2008 10:34 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | When trailering, I've seen it done both ways. On the last boat we had a kicker on, I always put the kicker down when trailering. I think it relieves tension on the hydraulics and feel it's better to put it down. Now I'm sure there are a lot guys who think there just fine but that's my opinion. I'm sure either way works just fine, I just think putting the kicker down is better. If you have the connecting rod connected, you shouldn't have to worry about the motor swinging. Also, I always put the kicker in gear so the prop would not spin.
Should the kicker be in gear when not using and on the water? No, it does not have to be in gear.
Should the gas line be removed? Again, I've seen it done both ways. Some leave it attached, others undo the line and run the motor out of gas. Reason being, not sure when they might use the kicker again and didn't want the gas to break down inside the motor while not in use. But if your using the kicker a lot, you shouldn't have to worry about this.
Again, you can leave the rod on or you can take it off. It won't hurt either way. I always left ours connected that way I never had to worry about losing it or something happening to it. Also, if you do take the rod off, make sure you have enough room when you turn the motor toward the gunnel of the boat. You don't want the motor pounding on the inside corner of the boat. That can put a pretty nasty scar on the cowling. | |
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | I have the kicker motor trimmed down when trailering. Remembering to trim it up before backing up the incline into my drive is the fun part!
Disconnecting the fuel line and running the kicker until it quits sounds like a winner with the gas we're allowed to run.
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | TJ hit all the main points but there is no reason to put the kicker in gear unless you are going to be using it to push the boat. It does no harm to spin freely in the wind or water. I would recommend that you get a transom support for the kicker motor to save both the brackets and any added stress to the transom. It is easy enough to mount one up and not have anything in the way. I would remove the gas line at the end of every trip and run it out of gas. This will keep the carb from gumming up and prevent you from spending more money to get it fixed. Leave the kicker rod connected. You will keep both the motors from banging together and you will save yourself from hitting the kicker on the corner of the boat. Cowlings are about 250 to 300 for small motors now when I was looking just the other day out of curiosity. | |
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Posts: 5874
| You must have a remote control kicker, no centering straps. If so. leave the connecting bar attached, especially when running on the lake. Not good to leave these motors tipped over to the side when running or trailering. You definately don't want it to swing freely from side to side. The tillers have centering straps, so you cannot leave the bar on when running with the big motor. I trailer with mine down, tension maxed, leave the fuel line connected, bar off, and in neutral. Just got mine out after a 3 month hibernation, and it started on the first crank. I love my ProKicker! | |
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | Shep, it is the tiller, and it has straps that lock it when trimmed all the way up. I've got the digital TrollMaster for it. I went tiller for the option to steer it separate from the big motor. The bar certainly seemed to get in the way, and I was removing it. I wasn't sure if I had to though.
Thanks for the input guys. Mike | |
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Posts: 5874
| Also, no need for a transom save on these kickers. As I said, I tow with mine down, but you don't have to. They are not that heavy that you need to worry about the transom.
I'll be looking to take a spin on Pewaukee the night before the opener! | |
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kicker questions