The invention relates to marine propulsion devices. More particularly, the invention relates to outboard motors, and still more particularly to outboard motor tilt tubes.
A conventional outboard motor, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,141, comprises a transom or stern bracket mounted on the transom of a boat, and a tilt tube which is supported by the transom bracket and which extends along a generally horizontal tilt axis. Nuts threaded onto the opposite ends of the tilt tube prevent axial movement of the tilt tube relative to the transom bracket. A swivel bracket is mounted on the tilt tube for pivotal movement relative thereto about the tilt axis, and a propulsion unit is mounted on the swivel bracket for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis. A steering ram slidably housed within the tilt tube has one end connected to the steering arm of the propulsion unit via a power steering system, and has the opposite end connected to the core of a steering cable assembly. The sheath of the steering cable assembly is fixed to one end of the tilt tube by a nut threaded onto the end of the tilt tube.
A conventional tilt tube extends a certain distance beyond one side of the transom bracket, which distance is only long enough to enable a retaining nut to be threaded onto the end of the tilt tube, but not long enough to enable the sheath of a remote control cable to be connected to that end of the tilt tube. The other end of the tilt tube extends a sufficient distance beyond the transom bracket to enable a retaining nut to be threaded onto that end of the tilt tube and to enable a remote control cable sheath to be secured to that end of the tilt tube by an additional nut.
Attention is directed to the following U.S. patents:
______________________________________ Nolan 3,207,117 September 21, 1965 Baba 4,735,165 April 5, 1988 Hickham 4,815,994 March 28, 1989 ______________________________________