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Hello All, I am nearing completion of the restoration on my '68 Nauset and have come across the first problem I couldn't solve by searching previous discussions on WhalerCentral. Before I began my project, I had my Mercury dealer winterize the motor and disconnect it. For a slightly-more-than-nominal fee he pulled it off the transom and helped me throw it in the back of my Tahoe. I got home, pulled it out of the truck and placed it on a stand I made. In the time since I have almost completed my restoration, and need to think about putting it all back together.

Here is my question. To save myself the cost of the lifting/mounting fee, I was thinking about bolting the motor back on the transom, and then just having my mechanic reconnect it all for me. What occurred to me is that the motor as it sits is currently trimmed down, which leaves the prop a little too close to the pavement on these bumpy back roads. I normally trim up when trailering, but can't since the motor currently has no power. I know little about electrical work, but was wondering if there is a way to temporarily wire my batteries into the motor so I can "trim up" and get the ground clearance I need? Or am I better off muscling this thing back in the truck and paying him to do it all for me?

My guess is that this is a stupid question, so please be kind.

Thanks-
Steve

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The answer depends on the year of the Merc, which you didn't tell us.

There are three possiblities:

1. If it is a later model with a second cowl mounted trim switch, just hook up the battery leads from the engine and use the cowl trim switch.

2. If it's a model with transom bracket mounted trim system, but no cowl aux switch, you would have to plug in the ignition cable and/or trim harness, and also attach the battery cables to the battery, then use the control mounted trim switch.

Also, on #1 and 2, you can release the hydraulic pressure with a large plastic screw mounted through the side of the transom bracket, and tilt it up manually and use the tilt lever to keep it up. Then tighten the screw back up.

3. If it is an older engine, pre-1986 or so, with a remote mounted power trim pump, you may not be able to do it except manually. I am not familiar with those old systems.

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Thanks and sorry I should have mentioned it is a 1997 that has the cowl mounted trim switch. So it sounds like my best course is #1 which just leaves one question ... how do I hook up the battery to the engine ? Are there posts on the motor that I connect the leads to? I gotta say I didn't pay a heck of a lot of attention to how it was put together before they took it apart. Again pls be kind. Thanks in advance.

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Generally, Mercury engines come with the battery cables already connected inside the engine, under the cowl. So you should have two battery cables, one marked with a red (positive) terminal, coming out of the engine. Your Dealer should have left these on the engine when he removed it from the boat. They are generally about 3 to 4 feet long.

If not, you must have the Mercury supplied battery cables loose somewhere, and you will need an engine manual to see where they are supposed to be connected under the cowl. Generally, it is in the vicinity of the starter.