Johnson Seahorse question...

[Disastrous]

I suspect this is a veeeery long shot but you never know:

I've just picked up an '84 vintage Johnson Seahorse 2hp for our tender. I can't for the life of me figure out how the tilt lock works (assuming it has one?). Does anyone know?

It has a kick up lock when you spin it round and use it in reverse, but seemingly no way to lock it up out the water for launching and recovering.

I made do with jamming a block of wood under it today but there must be a better way!?

[paintman]

I had a 4hp Seahorse in the 70's & that had a tilt lock. I've had a look at a parts diagram & can't see anything that looks like it for the 2hp.
Mine didn't have a reverse gear or neutral (it was pull & go!)but, as you said, they are fitted with a lock that keeps the motor down when you turn it round to reverse I wonder whether if you tilt the motor then turn it onto its side this lock would hold it up slightly?
Diagrams here:
http://www.boats.net/parts/search/BRP/JOHNSON/1979...

ETA. Entering 'Johnson Seahorse 2hp manual' into Google brings up a few sites that claim to have a download of the shop manual in PDF form, but I've not tried them to see what happens!

Edited by paintman on Monday 25th May 10:58

[Disastrous]

paintman said:

I had a 4hp Seahorse in the 70's & that had a tilt lock. I've had a look at a parts diagram & can't see anything that looks like it for the 2hp.
Didn't have a reverse gear or neutral (it was pull & go!)but as you said they are fitted with a lock that keeps the motor down when you turn it round to reverse I wonder whether if you tilt the motor then turn it onto its side this lock would hold it up slightly?
Diagrams here:
http://www.boats.net/parts/search/BRP/JOHNSON/1979...

ETA. Entering 'Johnson Seahorse 2hp manual' into Google brings up a few sites that claim to have a download of the shop manual in PDF form, but I've not tried them to see what happens!

Edited by paintman on Monday 25th May 10:54

Thanks paint man - I've seen a few of those links too but all the legitimate ones want $25 for a PDF of the manual which will infuriate me if the manual says "Does not have a tilt lock"!

I tried reversing the motor as you suggest but it didn't seem to make any particular difference. I also found mention on another forum of someone with a similar model saying that you are meant to tighten the tilt pivot bolt so it hangs in 'upright' if you tilt it, but I can't see that lasting. The same post said the tilt lock wasn't fitted until '83 or '84 which suggests mine ought to have one...

Shall scan the parts diagram for clues!

[paintman]

Wonder if it might be worth giving one of the older outboard specialists a call? Robin Curnows in Penryn for example.
Later parts lists here, I'd been racking my brain as it's one I usually use to look up parts! Unfortunately the pics for 1984 & 1985 look the same.
http://www.crowleymarine.com/?gclid=CI_dwKX-3MUCFb...
More I look at it, the more it looks like it doesn't have one which seems odd unless the friction you mention is the way.

Edited by paintman on Monday 25th May 14:47

[MattYorke]

I used to have a 4hp one - I think, (but am afraid I can't 100% remember for sure) that it was friction only - and the teeth were for reverse use as you note when you spin the powerhead round.

[Disastrous]

Thanks chaps. Matt, after squinting at the exploded diagram for the better part of a day, your testimony has pretty much convinced me there is no locking mechanism. It's a pretty lightweight motor anyhow so with the power head in the boat and the prop acting as a counterweight, friction on the pivot may well be enough. I'll take up my socket set next weekend and give it a tighten and see.

If that fails to do it, I'll give that specialist a ring paintman, and see if they can help.

The parts diagram was a big help as it suggests that there's nothing actually missing from mine (which I was wondering about) and from what's there, I see no way at all to lock the tilt.

Will update once I've tried out the nut but thanks for your help again!