Mercury Through The Years...

[Robby321]

I will attempt to describe how it all developed from the best of my old memory banks:
Early attempts to adjust trim while under power were made by home made hand pumps, equipment rams or jacks. Down trim was accomplished by bleed screws? The horizontal "side rams" was Mercury Racing's first out of the box product for racing PT. The rams attached to the transom (waterside) and "pinned" to the lower swivel bracket mount where the "Dynafloat" shock absorber would be. I don't know if these were used on BP's? This would be the standard Mercury HP trim system offered for sale until the T2 and T2X came along with a single ram thru transom design. The single ram thru transom design would remain unchanged until Mercury HP redesigned the V6 midsection transom bracket with a "stub " trim ram contained in the water side pocket of the transom bracket eliminating the need for a thru transom ram cutout, ram bracket and splash well. Some racers added 24V sources to their up button circuits for faster trim reaction but I never tried it because I did not want to spend $$$ on burned out pump motors.

Agree on 24 volt as mine was slow, but useable for just missing around the lake. Even then, running a 14x28 2 blade cupped, surfaced prop (trashed two gear cases expansion) it was all on the bow until grabbed, then sit back and wait. Boat was a beast, but zero hole shot! Nice rooster tail though! Got me laid though girls wanting a ride! Fun times in the 70's!

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[bernie]

Yup. Mercury Hi-Perf 1970's...

My version of the Bill Petty designed outboard trim that used the standard vertical cylinders in a more horizontal position. Again you lose the tilt fuction but on my Switzer Shooting Star I don't tilt the motor anyway.

[FUJIMO]

yup, they were plumbed opposite of factory, as used on a factory inline pleasure motor. they were available in a 3/4 diameter shaft, or a 1'' diameter shaft. different seal kits of course. back in the day, before trim was common, people jerry-rigged them to use on a few different things. trimless volvo outdrives come to mind. bracketry was made for them as well, utilizing the merc o/b cylinders.

[25ss]

When i cut my mid down to 12 inch had to remove the trim mounting pin from the swivel.
Rigged up a internal with a single standard ram.
With just the one ram it is faster with 12volts
Had to limit the travel in and out but worked great.
Dale

[bernie]

My version of the Bill Petty designed outboard trim that used the standard vertical cylinders in a more horizontal position. Again you lose the tilt fuction but on my Switzer Shooting Star I don't tilt the motor anyway.

Just noticed this this AM - on the BP's on the Merc poster of the Havasu boat - Petty Brackets! No cylinders though.

[FUJIMO]

...There were a handful of racers making their own versions back then...not just Petty and Merc...

[WaterZebra]

When i cut my mid down to 12 inch had to remove the trim mounting pin from the swivel.
Rigged up a internal with a single standard ram.
With just the one ram it is faster with 12volts
Had to limit the travel in and out but worked great.
Dale

I saw a lot of these trim set ups in Sport J. How did you attach the ram to the swivel bracket casting? Weldment? Interesting side note: we took production trim rams and cut off the offset knuckle to use on T2s and Champ mid sections rather than using Merc HP rams. You had to watch the plumbing hook ups though. If you were in a hurry and got it backwards, it would bleed "in" under power. I learned this the hard way in Sport J and barrel rolled in a turn (LOL).

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[bernie]

I can see my house from here!

[FUJIMO]

we all can bernardo. cut the grass when you get home from Englewood.