I have had the same shear-pin problem with the Mercury 3.5. I have not
substituted a
stronger metal, but have alleviated the problem by idling down more before
shifting into forward; by starting the motor in gear ( forward) after it is
warmed and I am in open water; and by replacing the shear pin periodically
before it shears.
Larry Longerbeam
P 15 "Ariel"
Near Chattanooga, TN
-----Original Message-----
From: J.J. Falkanger <gatorjj@mindspring.com>
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com <wwpotter@tscnet.com>
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 1998 6:59 PM
Subject: My kingdom for a shear pin!
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>Hay folks,
>
>I have the Tohatsu 3.5 like many of you do, and I am just going crazy over
>the number of shear pins I've broken lately. Is this normal? I swear I
>haven't hit anything yet, they break when the motor is idling in neutral
and
>I shift into gear. About every 5th or 6th time I crank up the motor, I
>break a pin.
>
>Any suggestions as to a better material other than brass I might use? I'd
>rather take the chance of ruining the motor than getting stuck again. A
>couple times I've broken them at the worst possible moment, although today
I
>got lucky (was in the middle of the lake, had plenty of time to pull the
>motor in and fix the pin). Spoiled a perfect day on the water (well, not
>spoiled, more like tarnished).
>
>Thanks,
>
>J.J. Falkanger
>Cary, NC
>P-19 #792 "Fozzguppy"
>