Outboard motor tilt lock device

Abstract

A marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat and having a side and upper surface, the marine propulsion device further comprising a swivel bracket mounted on the transom bracket for pivotal movement relative to the transom bracket about a generally horizontal tilt axis and between an operating position and a raised position, a propulsion unit including a rotatably mounted propeller and being mounted on the swivel bracket for pivotal movement relative to the swivel bracket about a generally vertical steering axis, a tilt lock shaft having first and second ends extending through the swivel bracket along a second generally horizontal axis spaced rearwardly from and substantially parallel to the tilt axis, a lever member mounted on the shaft and including a contact pad extending parallel to and radially offset from the second axis and further including at least one leg extending substantially perpendicularly relative to the contact pad, and manually operable structure for rotating the tilt lock shaft between a lock position, wherein the leg extends along the side of the transom bracket and the contact pad engages the upper surface of the transom bracket to prevent movement of the swivel bracket from the raised position to the operating position, and a release position wherein the contact pad disengages the transom bracket to permit the swivel bracket to move from the raised position to the operating position.