One Bolt Putting Your Mercury in Limp Mode (Super Easy Fix!)

[@robertdaoud6837]

Thanks for the video! This just happened to me. After doing my research I found your video. My pro xs 4 stroke basically shut me down at 60mph when I hit a wake. And the trim completely went bonkers. After getting back on pad my motor would not let me trim up. Long story short the bolt is now missing. The motor did not throw any codes. Great video and content! Wish I seen this before it cost me a fishing trip and stress

[@KenSmithFishing]

glad you found the channel, better late than never!

[@wesleyhall28]

Exact same thing happened to me a month ago

[@christopherboyette6058]

Dis you have any issues after putting bolt back in. I have done that and now motor will lwt me get up to 3500 rims then back into lump mode.

[@onethemdrakeboys]

He jumped right into it and 2:19

[@michaelmeier3919]

The trim bolt backing out portion of the video is in error in multiple accounts. 1. Match mark the head and monitor for movement. Do NOT just tighten this bolt! Any repositioning of a fastener with existing Lock-Tite installed renders it ineffective. The bolt must be removed. Existing Lock-Tite removed. New red Lock-Tite applied and torqued to 32Nm/23.6 ft lbs. 2. Obtain the Mercury revised replacement bolt #8M0177279 and install. It has pre-installed blue Lock-Tite. 3. Best option is to get it to a Mercury dealer and have them replace the bolt under warranty with the new style bolt. 4. The early models of the V8 250 4 stroke had the trilobe pin that has never had any issues. My Feb 2018 mfg engine has the trilobe pin. *Don't publish stuff on here that you don't have complete knowledge of!!! You will get someone hurt.

[@ronhimmelreich238]

What Mike said…

[@KenSmithFishing]

Mike so the actual bolt has changed?

[@michaelmeier3919]

@@KenSmithFishing Yes. That's why I provided the part number of the new bolt. Bubba Gump Mercury guy didn't tell you that? Best just to pull this video down and stick to boat reviews.

[@JTfishing6130]

@@michaelmeier3919 half the so called “mercury mechanics” out there are clueless. Took mine to a mercury dealer this summer because the fuel diaphragm on my opti had torn. Their dumbass mechanic put a tracker valve in my fuel regulator and to make it worse he did it without taking the fuel rail off. Dude just shoved a tracker valve in there and forced the cover on. After a month of them not knowing why it was running like shit, I took it home and found that out myself and took the rail off and put a fuel diaphragm in there, then took it to a dealer to be checked for calibration.

[@michaelmeier3919]

Yes​@@KenSmithFishing

[@douglasschmidt6873]

This happened to me today on lake Okeechobee 🤬boat wouldn’t go over 40 or trim up I still ran it but this video is awesome thank you for the information it’s going to bass pro happy new year sir

[@KenSmithFishing]

I hate admitting I haven’t checked mine yet

[@bakervinci163]

Can’t wait to see who has the best metal boat. Gatortrax maybe

[@bakervinci163]

Will it show on the smart gauge as oil issue?

[@michaelmayers7041]

Those slam latches are very similar to the rail latches on the older Ranger Z boats.

[@TheBassHookup]

I used to have a 2005 Z21 and was thinking the same exact thing. I do like them and don't know why more boat makers including Ranger are not using them.

[@DylanTurner-hd6zk]

If you reset the pin after it did this and went into Lino mode? Or does it have to be brought in to be recalibrated

[@Fishing_Daddy_84]

My 2017 250 Verado pro is not trimming up from the helm. I’m going to check this out

[@Freadom78]

What will the limp code be or what will it say??????

[@sharpie9333]

My 2015 40 Merc 4 stroke went into limp mode this weekend and I just looked at the pin and it’s halfway out. It’s not the bolt style either. Do I need to line it up or just tap it in? Thanks heaps for potentially saving me a trip to the dealer

[@KenSmithFishing]

Gotta be lined up

[@toddspindler6190]

2021 V 8s coming off Monday and my 2 strokes going back on.. Absolutely nothing but trouble and kills the fuel

[@MMAGUY13]

Have a 200 Yamaha just change the gas tank vent thought that was the problem it was not. boat runs really fast when first get on it. then all of a sudden it’s going super slow my boat mechanic thought it could be the gas tank vent. He put that in it didn’t work. We drove it for 40 minutes. Parked it for like five minutes on the water started it up and it started going slow, it always seems like when we drive then stop and go something goes wrong with it shut it off turn it on again goes slow Do you have any ideas? Any clues?

[@bakervinci163]

Allison’s latches drain outside of the box as well. They stole that idea. The water goes into a drain system

[@danielmckeen2465]

Nice tip Ken🤓you doing it on and off the water😁maybe you need to be a Boat salesman instead of an Insurance salesman😕

[@BenEaddy]

I need them to make a magnetic rod buckle like my ski helmet. I thought that's what I was about to see. Their updated latch looks like a step in the right direction but it can be a lot better.

[@toddspindler6190]

Ranger Z series had these since 2006

[@bakervinci163]

Do you have video of the used glass boats. I think I have purchased an xb 21, but my eyes will stay open until I’m chunking jigs over the side

[@FishOn1]

Good info. Thanks.

[@bakervinci163]

The rod latch, is a problem . The retractor spring will fail after a while.

[@Kctfishn]

Shared this. Thanks Ken. Great info

[@haroldclark2190]

Good info, thx

[@bobsmith1841]

So sad how you can't even seat 3 in the jaguar...

[@tomrieger27]

Like the rod straps, but the end should be in the side fiberglass, not the carpet.

[@docriordan7787]

So the engineers took a proven design that gave no problems and redesigned it and now have a better chance of failure and the opportunity to make more money off the consumer after the sale.....brilliant!

[@jeremyjohnston2583]

Mine did this, I had to replace my whole bushing.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Jeremy you are not alone!

[@HookedOnTuna]

There needs to be an override for this problem it’s just a trim sender. It’s not a problem worth putting into limp mode. One thing if it disables auto trim. That’s a a small issue and not gonna ruin a day. Trim senders issues putting you into guardian/limp mode is beyond stupid. The mercs are nice running motors but it’s the stupid crap like that keeping them from being as reliable as Yamaha. Evinrude had a similar issue with the g2 outboards trim sender goes out of wack and your in limp mode.

[@richardosborn3203]

Its Happened to me. 2021 250 ProXS

[@dustincognetti2379]

I bought a brand new Phoenix 920 Elite. It was missing that bolt from the Mercury Factory. It was down 2 month. Trim would not go up or down.

[@ramseyromanin3093]

Assuming Blue Loctite??

[@toddspindler6190]

I purchased the 2021 Mercury 250 hoping all my outbound issues would be solved (paid cash) and boy did I ever more f up, sorry 😂🥴… I fish full time 7 days a week for a living and live a nightmare daily for not buying a SHO, heck anything other than a Mercury.. Countless days having to make loooooong drives back to a dealer on practice days of a Toyota event, canceling clients, you name it.. 99% of the problem is TRIM SENSOR PIN location being off putting me in limp mode.. I’m a mechanist bye trade so I have to try and get it going anyway possible.. My boat in a shop for 2 weeks I’d loss everything I have.. I literally work out of this rig (Pho920 ProXP) 330 days a year.. Let’s put it this way it’s a 2021 with 1750 hours… Huge Huge Huge mistake buying a Mercury.. Beware guys

[@knelson3145]

You're complaining about your motor with 1750 hrs having issues?.... lol mmk

[@kennyb7883]

that clip on those rod straps WILL break after a season or two of being kicked and stepped on.

[@KenSmithFishing]

time will tell

[@bakervinci163]

If you snap this bolt off, you have to get an entire trim repair kit from mercury( 250$)

[@owenyoch6125]

No reason you can’t use a EZ out, and replace the $5 bolt.

[@DEADKING624]

Vibration is hard to fight…just keep checking and tightening

[@KenSmithFishing]

Locktite is the key!

[@bobsmith1841]

"Fixes" water issues with locks.. then puts giant holes in floor for "new" rod buckle design.. 🤔

[@brandonackersonfishing5738]

You didn’t explain how to line up the pin with the bolt. Not helpful

[@KenSmithFishing]

Sorry dude, just trying to help

[@JesusFreakLive]

I wanna BassCat

[@JesusFreakLive]

Amen ! In Jesus name we come in one accord and agree for complete and quick healing for Scott and Brady !

[@drharleyman1]

I sent you an email to you, check you spam folder

[@bakervinci163]

Be ware ! This bolt is super soft. It will break

[@GarryMurray-i1y]

With all the cheap plastic pieces used instead of Aluminum, the pin issue and the inferior metals used in the lower unit , why would anyone want to consider wasting their hard earned money on a Mercury where you can get reliability and quality from a Yamaha or Suzuki. This is just pathetic. That’s why North American produced vehicles/ products along with cheap Chinese parts will cause companies to go bankrupt once people wake up and realize the garbage they are buying.

[@EASTBOUNDAWG]

Get rid of the mercury and get a Yamaha problem solved.

[@mdmileinc1672]

buy suzuki or yamaha and you dont have to deal with these problems. Actually you dont have to deal with any problems.

[@KenSmithFishing]

Not knocking anybody, but there are VERY few Suzuki service centers and neither they nor Yamaha send service trailers to tournaments anymore, if they aren't going to support tournament fishing I would not support them

[@GarryMurray-i1y]

No money in tournament fishing. Yamaha and Suzuki are smart enough to realize this. That’s why they don’t care to have on site service. Build a good product and people will come. Build garbage , and people will leave