Evinrude Etec 60hp trailering lock

[Johno99]

When I bought my new to me Rib last year the trailering lock was completely seized up. I managed to free it and started using it, but somehow the larger port side broke. Maybe due to me forgetting it was on and using the power trim against it or putting too muck weight on it while trailering.
Anyway I’ve been trailering happily away no problems but I’ve been thinking, should I use it? The Evinrude manual says to use when trailering and call it a trailering lock, but there are many comments on other forums which say don’t use the lock at all or others say put a lump of 4x2 under it.
What do owners on here of Evinrude do and more generally what do other outboard owners do please?

[willk]

4x2 here.

[Stewy]

On my 50hp etec I always use the factory lock, it's abit bent from forgetting it's there.

In the past on other engines ive lowered onto a thick round wooden pole.

[Johno99]

Originally Posted by Stewy

On my 50hp etec I always use the factory lock, it's abit bent from forgetting it's there.

In the past on other engines ive lowered onto a thick round wooden pole.

I used a piece of broom pole and broke it

[Peter_C]

I don't use my lock but I swear by a transom saver! Brand of outboard is unimportant, but I did use one on my previous Evinrude, and now my Honda.

There are lots of options for blocks to install, including making them from wood.
https://moto-stops.com/
https://mangroveproduct.com/products...and-trim-units

[Stewy]

Just seen these on Ebay, seems a decent idea.

[Pikey Dave]

When I had the etecs, I always used the trailering locks, they are the only engine that I know of where the engine rest is designed for trailering. I was astounded when I got the Suzuki to find out I was supposed to wedge a lump of 4x2 in the transom bracket for trailering. So I set about & made a custom block, not what you really expect to have to do on a £10k engine in the 21st century.

[Johno99]

Wow, didn’t even realise there was such a thing, now I’ve googled it I’m snowed under with ideas. The Evinrude replacement would cost me a lot more than these options. I’m going to measure up.

[Johno99]

Not sure which to go for, the plastic or nylon or whatever they’re made made of seem to either crush and split after a while or fall out while trailering.

[ptm]

I use the M-Y Wedge. It fits over the tilt ram then you lower the engine on to it. There are a few solutions but as ever it usually comes down to budget and preference. The M-Y seems to work very well.

[Johno99]

I looked at a few including the M-Y type and they all seemed to measure 5”. In my kit I had a spare, new keel roller which was 5””, cut a slot in it. Works perfectly as far as I can see. Tight? Me?

[Pikey Dave]

Top job

[ptm]

Originally Posted by Johno99

I looked at a few including the M-Y type and they all seemed to measure 5”. In my kit I had a spare, new keel roller which was 5””, cut a slot in it. Works perfectly as far as I can see. Tight? Me?

Looks like a decent solution, but why cut a slot in it? Would it not fit straight on to the ram, therefore no risk of it ‘sqeezing’ off?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by ptm

Looks like a decent solution, but why cut a slot in it? Would it not fit straight on to the ram, therefore no risk of it ‘sqeezing’ off?

because the ram is connected at both ends, there isn't a free end to slot it over.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Johno99

I looked at a few including the M-Y type and they all seemed to measure 5”. In my kit I had a spare, new keel roller which was 5””, cut a slot in it. Works perfectly as far as I can see. Tight? Me?

It is even a good durometer for what you are using it for

How did you cut it? (I would use a bandsaw, but there are many different ways, like a manual hacksaw.)

[Johno99]

Cut with an ordinary wood saw, a lot easier than I thought. I cut the slot slightly smaller than the ram so I had to squeeze it on. The hole down the centre of the keel roller is about 2mm larger than the diameter of the ram. Looks to me to be a great solution, can’t imagine how it would fall out.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Johno99

/// In my kit I had a spare, new keel roller which was 5””, cut a slot in it.

Legend!

[ptm]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

because the ram is connected at both ends, there isn't a free end to slot it over.

It goes over the piston ram which does have an open end

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by ptm

It goes over the piston ram which does have an open end

Theres no open end on a single tilt ram, if it was the 3 ram design you can use two rollers over the trim pistons without cutting them but to go over the tilt ram like the op has done it needs cut.

[ptm]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Theres no open end on a single tilt ram, if it was the 3 ram design you can use two rollers over the trim pistons without cutting them but to go over the tilt ram like the op has done it needs cut.

Oh ok- I was referring to my own engine.