8
Low Speed Operation
As described before, let the engine warm up for a few minutes. Holding the handle
carefully, remove the handle rope and get a feel for the balance of the engine.
Neutral position
is acquired by lifting the prop out of the water. While the engine is
idling, lower and lift the prop into and out of the water. Get used to low speed
maneuvering and docking the boat before attempting to increase speed.
For the first time operating your new Surface Drive engine, turn the trim adjustment
knob counterclockwise until the prop and cavitation plate can be fully submerged while
the boat is floating at rest. Under normal conditions the trim can be adjusted for high
speed performance and need not be changed while idling or getting back up on plane.
Steer
the engine slowly to avoid getting water into or overturning the boat. The
Go-Devil Surface Drive engine is better suited for wider bottomed boats (48” or wider).
Use extreme caution-
even while idling
-when making sharp turns on narrow boats.
To turn the boat around in a tight situation, allow the boat to nearly come to a complete
stop. While the engine is idling with the prop out of the water, turn the engine all the
way to one side and lower the prop into the water slowly. Most boats will turn in their
own length when this is done.
TIP! - Turning left at low speed requires less reach due to the handle being on the left
side of the engine. When reversing direction from rest or idle speed, set up to turn left
whenever possible. This will become instinctive with time.
High Speed Operation
As its name implies, the Go-Devil “Surface Drive”, uses a surface piercing propeller.
The surface propeller is designed to be run primarily with a fraction of each blade
breaking the surface of the water with each revolution. To get maximum performance
from the engine, propeller depth can be fine tuned using the manual trim.
The manual trim mechanism is a standard feature on all SD models. The trim is simply
a bottom stop on the tilt axis of the engine which allows the engine to tilt upward freely
when an underwater obstacle is struck.
Manual Trim Adjustment
WARNING!! –
The trim knob is angled outward and away from a pinch point between
the engine and transom bracket.
DO NOT PLACE HANDS BENEATH THE ENGINE
WHILE IT IS RUNNING!!!
If the skeg or prop strikes an obstruction while underway,
the engine may tilt violently and cause injury.