US3835807A

US3835807A - Shallow water drive link control

Info

Publication number: US3835807A
Application number: US00386082A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Kueny
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-06
Filing date: 1973-08-06
Publication date: 1974-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-17
Also published as: CA1032028A; BE818242A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including a reverse lock movably mounted on a swivel bracket for releasable engagement with a thrust pin to retain the swivel bracket in normal operating position, a shallow water drive link mounted on the swivel bracket for movement relative to a position for releasable engagement with the thrust pin to retain the swivel swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, and a selectively operable control mechanism mounted on the swivel bracket and including an element operably connected to the reverse lock, and to the shallow water drive link for controlling releasable engagement of the thrust pin by the reverse lock and for displacing the shallow water drive link relative to a position affording releasable engagement with the thrust pin.

Description

United States Patent 191 Kueny Sept. 17, 1974 1 1 SHALLOW WATER DRIVE LINK CONTROL [76] Inventor: Don F. Kueny, 2716 Brnot Ave.,

Waukegan, 111. 60085 [22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 386,082

[52] US. Cl. 115/41 R, 115/17 [51] Int. Cl B63h 21/26 [58] Field of Search 115/41 R, 41 HT, 34 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,576,173 4/1971 Ginnow 115/41 R Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Frankfort Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael, Best & Friedrich [5 7 ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including a reverse lock movably mounted on a swivel bracket for releasable engagement with a thrust pin to retain the swivel bracket in normal operating position, a shallow water drive link mounted on the swivel bracket for movement relative to a position for releasable engagement with the thrust pin to retain the swivel swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, and a selectively operable control mechanism mounted on the swivel bracket and including an element operably connected to the reverse lock, and to the shallow water drive link for controlling releasable engagement of the thrust pin by the reverse lock and for displacing the shallow water drive link relative to a position affording releasable engagement with the thrust pin.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB 71974 SHEET 1 0F 2 SHALLOW WATER DRIVE LINK CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to marine propulsion devices, such as outboard motors and stem drive units, and, more particularly, to shallow water drive links for such marine propulsion devices.

Outboard motors commonly include a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to the transom of a boat and a swivel bracket connected to the mounting bracket for movement about a tilt axis between a normal running or operating position, a raised swivel bracket position, and a partially elevated shallow water drive position located intermediate the raised swivel bracket position and the normal running position.

Outboard motors have also previously included shallow water drive links which are pivotally mounted on the swivel bracket for movement relative to a position of engagement with a thrust pin supported by a mounting bracket, either by direct manual manipulation of the shallow water drive link or in response to movement of reverse lock elements.

Attention is directed to the following US. Pat. Nos.:

Ginnow 3,576,173 issued Apr. 27, 1971; I-Iulsebus Ike-25,048 issued Oct. 3, 1961; Anderson 3,016,896 issued Jan. 16, 1962.

Attention is also directed to the US. Shimanckas application Ser. No. 271,198 which was filed July 12, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,785,329, and assigned to the assignee of this application, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket connected to a support bracket for pivotal movement therebetween relative to a normal operating swivel bracket position, a raised swivel bracket position, and a shallow water drive position located intermediate the normal operating position and the raised position, together with a reverse lock mounted on the swivel bracket for releasable engagement with the thrust pin to retain the swivel bracket in the normal operating position, a shallow water drive link mounted on the swivel bracket for movement relative to a position for releasable engagement with the thrust pin to retain the swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, means on the swivel bracket and on the support bracket for releasably holding the swivel bracket in the raised position, and selectively operable control means mounted on the swivel bracket and including an operating element or lever adapted to be manually manipulated and operably connected to the reverse lock, operably connected to the shallow water drive link, and operably connected to the swivel bracket holding means for controlling releasable engagement of the thrust pin by the reverse lock and for displacing the shallow water drive link relative to the position affording releasable engagement with the thrust pin, and for controlling releasable holding of the swivel bracket in the raised position by the swivel bracket holding means.

In further accordance with the invention, the operating lever is operable to displace the shallow water drive link independently of any reverse lock movement.

therebetween and about an axis extending transversely to said tilt axis to afford steering of said propulsion unit relative to said swivel bracket, a thrust pin carried by the mounting bracket for releasable engagement by the swivel bracket to locate the swivel bracket in the normal running position, a shallow water drive link carried by the swivel bracket for movement relative to a position affording engagement with the thrust pin to releasably hold the swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, means on the swivel bracket engageable by the shallow water drive link to locate the shallow water drive link in the position affording engagement of the shallow water drive link with the thrust pin, and means for displacing the shallow water drive link relative to the position affording engagement with the thrust pin and including an operating lever movably mounted on the swivel bracket and adapted to be manually actuated, and linkage means directly connecting the operating lever to the shallow water drive link to displace the shallow water drive link to the position affording engagement with the thrust pin in response to movement of the operating lever, said linkage means including means affording list motion between the operating lever and the shallow water drive link.

In further accordance with the invention, the linkage means is independent of a reverse lock and displacement of the shallow water drive link occurs in direct response to operating lever movement resulting from manual manipulation and not in response to reverse lock movement.

Also in accordance with the invention, the shallow water drive link is designed so as to be biased away from the position affording engagement with the thrust pin, either by gravity, by spring bias, or otherwise, and the manually operable linkage overcomes the bias of the drive link away from the position affording engagement with the thrust pin and holds the drive link against a stop on the swivel bracket.

It is a feature of the invention to provide a marine propulsion device, such as an outboard motor, with a single operating lever or element directly controlling each of a reverse look, a shallow water drive link, and a bracket or member for holding a swivel bracket in the raised position.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a manually operable linkage for operating a shallow water drive link without employing the components of a reverse lock.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a manually operable shallow water drive link operating linkage including a lost motion connection operable, during location of the swivel bracket between the normal operating position and the shallow water drive position, to cock the shallow water drive link for movement to a position for engagement with the thrust pin upon movement of the swivel bracket above the shallow water drive position and operable, during engagement of the shallow water drive link with the thrust pin,

to retain the drive link against a stop on the swivel bracket so as to retain the shallow water drive link in proper position for engagement with the thrust pin.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following drawings, general description, and claims.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a marine propulsion device in the form of an outboard motor embodying various of the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken from the front of a portion of the outboard motor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and partially schematic view of a portion of the components of the outboard motor shown in FIG. 1 with the operating lever shown in the run position and with the thrust pin engaged by the reverse lock, and with the shallow water drive link held in a storage position by the means biasing the drive link away from the thrust pin.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with the operating lever shown in the tilt position, with the reverse lock unlatched, and with the shallow water drive link in engagement with the thrust pin to retain the swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position.

Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shown in the drawings is a marine propulsion device which embodies various of the features of the invention and which is in the form of an outboard motor 11 including a clamp or stem or transom or mounting bracket 13 which is adapted to be fixed to the transom 14 or other supporting member of a boat hull. Connected to the transom bracket 13 for vertical swinging movement about a tilt pin 17 is a swivel bracket 19. Connected to the swivel bracket 19 for common vertical swinging movement and for horizontal swinging movement about a king pin 21 relative to the swivel bracket 19 is a propulsion unit 23 which includes a propeller shaft 27 carrying a propeller 29.

Also included in the outboard motor 1 l is a thrust pin or rod 31 which is selectively supportable in two laterally spaced series of apertures 33 in the stem or transom bracket 13 so as to determine the angle between the transom 14 and the propulsion unit 23 when the propulsion unit 23 is in the normal running or operating position. Because of the pivotal connection about the tilt pin 17, the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 are swingable upwardly from the normal operating position to a shallow water drive position, and upwardly beyond the shallow water drive position to an elevated or raised position in which the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 can be supported against return movement to the normal operating position and to the shallow water drive position and in which the propeller 29 is usually out of the water. In addition, the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 can normally be swung slightly upwardly beyond the elevated or raised position.

Also included in the outboard motor 11 is a reverse lock 41 (See FIGS. 3 and 4) which, when engaged, prevents upward swinging of the propulsion unit 23 from the normal operating position to thereby facilitate outboard motor operation in reverse. In the event of the striking of an underwater obstacle when traveling forwardly and, if the impact associated with such striking is sufficient, the reverse lock 41 will automatically release to permit upward swinging of the propulsion unit 23.

In the illustrated construction, the reverse lock 41 embodies various of the features disclosed in the US. I-Iulsebus Pat. No. Re. 25,048, issued Oct. 3, 1961. While other reverse lock configurations can be employed, in the illustrated construction, the reverse lock 41 includes a pair of arms 43 which are respectively coaxially and pivotally mounted on a pivot or stud 44 on the opposite sides of the swivel bracket 19. At their forward ends, the arms 43 are connected to a yoke or bale 47 by a pivot pin 49 affording relative pivotal movement therebetween. Pivotal movement of the bale or yoke 47 relative to the pivot pin 49 in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 is prevented by respective stops 46 which extend from the pivot arms 43 into engagement with the bale or yoke 47. The forward portion of the bale or yoke includes hook portions 59 adapted to engage the thrust pin or rod 31 to releasably prevent upward swinging movement of the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19.

Means are provided for biasing the assembly of the bale 47 and pivot arms 43 in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 about the pivot 44 to releasably engage the hook portions 59 with the thrust pin 31. While other arrangements can be employed, in the illustrated construction, such means comprises one or more relatively heavy main tension springs 61 which are connected, at their lower ends, to the rearward portions of the bale 47 and which, at their upper ends, are anchored to the swivel bracket 19. The reverse lock 41 is thus biased by the heavy tension or main springs 61 into engaged position with the thrust pin 31 so as to prevent upward movement of the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 from the normal operating position (See FIG. 3).

Means are provided for releasably retaining the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 in the raised or elevated position. While other constructions can be employed, in the illustrated construction, such means comprises (See FIG. 4) a mechanism including a locking or holding bracket or member 77 which is pivotally mounted on the swivel bracket 19 coaxially with the operating lever still to be described and which includes a slot 79 comprising a generally vertically elongated portion 81 and a projecting portion 83 extending forwardly from the lower end of the vertically elongated slot portion 81. Also provided in the locking bracket 77 is a detent or tang 87 which projects downwardly into the junction between the vertically elongated slot portion 81 and the forwardly projecting slot portion 83.

Received within the slot 79 for movement therein is a locking pin 89 which extends fixedly from the transom bracket 13. When the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 are in the normal running position, the locking pin 89 is located at the upper end of the vertically elongated slot portion 81 (See FIG. 3). When the propulsion unit 23 and connected swivel bracket 19 are retained in the elevated or raised position, the locking pin 89 is located in the projecting slot portion 83 in engagement with the upper edge 90 of the projecting slot portion 83 and forwardly of the downwardly projecting tang 87.

Movably carried on the swivel bracket 19 is a U- shaped shallow water drive link 101 which is carried for movement relative to a position affording releasable engagement with the thrust pin 31 to retain the swivel bracket 19 in the shallow water drive position. The shallow water drive link 101 includes a web part 103 adapted to engage the thrust pin 31 when the drive link 101 is in the position for engagement with the thrust pin 31 and a pair of spaced legs 105 which extend from the web part 103 and are pivotally mounted on the pivot 44.

Means are provided on the shallow water drive link 101 and on the swivel bracket 19 for limiting movement of the shallow water drive link 101 in the clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so as to locate the drive link 101 in correct position for engagement with the thrust pin 31 upon movement of the swivel bracket 19 downwardly to the shallow water drive position. While other arrangements could be employed, one or both of the legs 105 includes a tang 107 which extends rearwardly beyond the pivot 44 and is adapted to engage a stop 109 on the swivel bracket 19 so as to limit shallow water drive link movement in the clockwise direction and thereby locate the drive link 101 in the position affording releasable engagement with the thrust pin 31.

Means are provided for biasing the shallow water drive link 101 in the counterclockwise direction away from the position affording engagement with the thrust pin 31. Various means can be employed. For instance, the shallow water drive link 101 can be designed or weighted so as to be biased by gravity for movement in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Preferably, one or more suitably arranged springs can be employed to bias the shallow water drive link 101 in the counterclockwise direction away from the thrust pin 31. In the illustrated construction, one or more helical springs 111 are mounted coaxially with the pivot 44 and include opposite ends respectively engaged against the swivel bracket 19 and the shallow water drive link 101 to provide the desired bias.

Provided on the swivel bracket 19 is a selectively operable control means including an operating element or lever 121 operably connected to the reverse lock 41, operably connected to the shallow water drive link 101 independently of the reverse lock 41,'and operably connected to the swivel bracket holding bracket or member 77 for controlling releasable engagement with the thrust pin 31 by the reverse lock 41 and for displacing the shallow water drive link 101 relative to the position affording releasable engagement with the thrust pin 31 and for controlling releasable holding of the swivel bracket 19 in the raised position by the swivel bracket holding member 77.

More specifically, the operating element or lever 121 is movably mounted on the swivel bracket 19 and is operably connected to each of the reverse lock 41, the

swivel bracket holding member 77, and the shallow water drive link 101.

Still more specifically, while other constructions could be employed, in the illustrated construction, the operating lever 121 includes a shaft 123 which is pivotally mounted to the swivel bracket 19 adjacent the top thereof for movement between run and tilt positions which are angularly spaced from each other at about The operating lever 121 also includes a handle 124 extending fixedly from the shaft 123, a pair of spaced

arms

125 and 127 extending fixedly from the shaft 123, and a pair of angularly spaced abutments or shoulders 129 and 131.

As will be explained hereinafter, the operating lever 121 is biased over center so that the level 121 tends to remain in either the run or tilt position in the absence of manual manipulation to change its position.

The arm 125 is connected to the reverse lock 41 by a rod 141 so as to release the reverse lock 41 by rotating the bale 47 about the pivot 44 in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and against the action of the main springs 61 in response to movement of the operating lever 121 from the run position to the tilt position, which movement of the operating lever 121 serves to raise the rod 141. When the operating lever 121 is in the tilt position, the reverse lock 41 is retained in unlatched condition. Upon movement of the operating lever 121 to the run position, the rod 141 is lowered to permit repositioning of the reverse lock 41, under the influence of the main springs 61, for engagement with the thrust pin 31 upon return of the swivel bracket 19 to the normal running or operating position. When the operating lever 121 is in the run position, the reverse lock 41 is retained in position for engagement with the thrust pin 31.

The arm 125 which is connected to the reverse lock 41 is located so that during movement of the operating lever 121 between the tilt and run'positions, the arm 125 travels over-center, i.e., over the top of the axis of the shaft 123. The before-mentioned biasing means for retaining the operating lever 121 in either the tilt or run positions comprises a light spring 143 which is suitably connected, at one end, to the swivel bracket 19 or to a part mounted thereon, as for instance the reverse lock 41, and which, at its other end, is connected to the reverse lock operating rod 141 so as to continuously urge the rod 141 downwardly and thereby bias the operating lever 121 toward the position in which it is located. Other arrangements could be employed for biasing the operating link over-center. For instance, an arrangement similar to that disclosed can be employed in cooperation with the shallow water drive actuating link which will be mentioned hereinafter. In addition, other means could also be employed.

The angularly spaced shoulders 129 and 131 on the operating lever 121 are operably engageable with a pin 145 on the swivel bracket holding member 77 so that, in response to movement of the operating lever 121 from the run position to the tilt position, the swivel bracket holding member 77 is cooked for movement in the counterclockwise direction relative to the transom bracket 13, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so as to displace the locking pin 89 into the left end of the projecting portion 83 of the slot 79 in the holding member 77 and to thereby retain the swivel bracket holding member 77 in position to releasably retain the swivel bracket 19 in the raised position.

Upon movement of the operating lever 121 from the tilt position to the run position, the swivel bracket holding member 77 is cocked for movement in the clockwise direction relative to the transom bracket 13, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that, upon elevation of the swivel bracket 19 above the raised position, the holding member 77 will move relative to the locking pin 89 to locate the locking pin 89 in the vertical portion 81 of the slot 79 and thereby to permit lowering of the swivel bracket 19 from the raised position.

The other or second arm 127 of the operating lever 121 is connected to the shallow water drive link 101 by linkage means 147 operable independently of any motion or movement of the reverse lock 41, i.e., the shal low water drive link 101 is not moved in response to movement of the reverse lock 41, as in the Ginnow Pat. 3,576,173. In addition, the linkage means 147 includes a lost motion connection. In the illustrated construction, the arm 127 is located so as to continuously move upwardly during movement of the operating lever 121 from the run position to the tilt" position and so as to continuously swing downwardly during movement of the operating lever 121 from the tilt position to the run position.

The linkage means 147 comprises an actuating link or rod 151 which, at its upper end, is pivotally connected to the arm 127 and which, at its lower end, is either pivotally connected to the shallow water drive link 101 or is guided for movement so as to operatively en gage the shallow water drive link 101 to swing the shallow water drive link 101 in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, after an initial amount of upward movement.

Various means can be employed for providing the lost motion connection in the linkage means 147 connected to the shallow water drive link 101. In the illustrated construction, the lost motion connection is provided by forming the shallow water drive link actuating rod 151 with an integral spring portion 153 which is extendible in the event the shallow water drive link 101 is prevented from moving in common with the upper end of the link 151 in response to manual manipulation of the operating lever 121 by the operator. Thus, when the operating lever 121 is moved from the run position to the tilt position, upward swinging of the arm 127 causes upward movement of the actuating rod 151 which causes the shallow water drive link 101 to swing in the clockwise direction about the pivot 44 and against the action of the spring 11 1. Such shallow water drive link movement will cause, prior to full movement of the operating lever 121 to the tilt position, engagement of the legs 105 of the shallow water drive link 101 with the bottom of the thrust pin 31 when the swivel bracket 19 is in the normal running position. Under such circumstances, the spring portion 153 of the actuating rod 151 will expand to permit complete movement of the operating lever 121 to the tilt position. The tension imparted into the spring portion 153 of the actuating rod 151 is less than the action of the light spring 143 biasing the operating lever 121, and, accordingly, the biasing action to which the operating lever 121 is subject, is not materially adversely affected by extension of the spring portion 153 of the shallow water drive actuating rod 151.

After the operating lever 121 is in the tilt" position, the swivel bracket 19 can be swung upwardly and the tension in the spring portion 153 of the shallow water drive actuating rod 151 causes the shallow water drive link 101 to remain in engagement with the thrust pin 31 during initial movement of the swivel bracket 19 upwardly and away from the thrust pin 31. When the swivel bracket 19 is raised beyond the shallow water operating position, the shallow water drive link 101 rides off the thrust pin 31 and the tension in the spring portion of the shallow water drive actuating rod 151 serves to further displace the shallow water drive link 101 in the clockwise direction until engagement of the stop 109 on the swivel bracket 19 by the tang or tangs 107 to locate the shallow water drive link 101 in the position affording engagement with the thrust pin 31. Upon lowering of the swivel bracket 19 to the shallow water drive position, the shallow water drive link 101 will engage the thrust pin 31 to releasably retain the swivel bracket 19 in the shallow water drive position.

When the operating lever 121 is thereafter moved from the tilt to the run position, the shallow water drive actuating rod 151 is lowered, permitting the spring or springs 111 to displace the shallow water drive link 101 relative to the swivel bracket 19 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, upon subsequent lowering of the swivel bracket 19, the shallow water drive link 101 will be retained clear of and below the thrust pin 31. Movement of the operating lever 121 from the tilt" to the run position, as already explained, also simultaneously permits location of the reverse lock 41 for engagement with the thrust pin 31 upon return of the swivel bracket 19 to the normal running position.

If the swivel bracket 19 is raised beyond the shallow water drive position to the raised position after move ment of the operating lever 121 to the tilt position, and it is desired to subsequently locate the swivel bracket 19 in the shallow water drive position, the operating lever 121 is then returned to the run position, the swivel bracket 19 is then returned to the normal operating position, the operating lever 121 is then returned to the tilt position, and the swivel bracket 19 is then raised at least somewhat beyond the shallow water drive position and then lowered to engage the shallow water drive link 101 with the thrust pin 31.

Thus, there is disclosed an operating lever 121 which is capable of providing coordinated operation of each of the reverse lock 41, the shallow water drive link 101, and a swivel bracket holding member 77. Furthermore, the operating lever 121 is located on the swivel bracket 19 in position for easy access and serves to locate the various components for operation in response to swinging movement of the swivel bracket. The connection of the operating lever 121 to the shallow water drive link 101 is operable independently of any movement of the reverse lock 41 and would be operable in the absence of the reverse lock 41.

Various of the aspects of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A marine propulsion device comprising a support bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a thrust pin carried by said support bracket, a swivel bracket, means connecting said swivel bracket and said support bracket for pivotal movement therebetween relative to a normal operating swivel bracket position, a raised swivel bracket position, and a shallow water drive position located intermediate the normal operating position and the raised position, a reverse lock movably mounted on said swivel bracket for releasable engagement with said thrust pin to retain said swivel bracket in the normal operating position, a shallow water drive link mounted on said swivel bracket for movement relative to a position for releasable engagement with said thrust pin to retain said swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, means on said swivel bracket and on said support bracket for releasably holding said swivel bracket in the raised position, and selectively operable control means mounted on said swivel bracket and including an element operably connected to said reverse lock, operably connected to said shallow water drive link, and operably connected to said swivel bracket holding means for controlling releasable engagement of said thrust pin by said reverse lock and for displacing said shallow water drive link relative to said position affording releasable engagement with said thrust pin, and for controlling releasable holding of said swivel bracket in the raised position by said swivel bracket holding means.

2. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reverse lock is movable relative to a position affording engagement with said thrust pin and wherein said element is operable to displace said shallow water drive link independently of movement of said reverse lock relative to said reverse lock position.

3. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control means includes means on said element operably engageable with said swivel bracket holding means, means on said element connected to said reverse lock, and means on said element connected to said shallow water drive link independently of said means operably engageable with said swivel bracket holding means and independently of said means connected to said reverse lock.

4. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means connected to said shallow water drive link comprises linkage means directly connecting said element and said shallow water drive link for displacing said shallow water drive link to said position affording engagement with said thrust pin in response to movement of said operating lever, said linkage means including means affording lost motion between said element and said shallow water drive link.

5. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said reverse lock is movable relative to a position affording engagement with said thrust pin and wherein said means connected to said shallow water drive link comprises linkage means directly connecting said element to said shallow water drive link for displacing said shallow water drive link to said position affording engagement with said thrust pin in response to movement of said element and independently of movement of said reverse lock, said linkage means including means affording lost motion between said element and said shallow water drive link.

6. A marine propulsion device comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a swivel bracket connected to said mounting bracket for pivotal movement therebetween about a tilt axis and relative to a normal running position and upwardly from the normal running position to and beyond a shallow water drive position, said tilt axis being generally horizontal when said mounting bracket is attached to the boat hull, a propulsion unit connected to said swivel bracket for pivotal movement therebetween and about an axis extending transversely to said tilt axis to afford steering of said propulsion unit relative to said swivel bracket, a thrust pin carried by said mounting bracket for releasable engagement by said swivel bracket to locate said swivel bracket in the normal running position, a shallow water drive link carried by said swivel bracket for movement relative to a position affording engagement with said thrust pin to releasably hold said swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, means on said swivel bracket engageable by said shallow water drive link to locate said shallow water drive link in said position affording engagement of said shallow water drive link with said thrust pin, and means for displacing said shallow water drive link relative to said position affording engagement with said thrust pin and including an operating lever movably mounted on said swivel bracket and adapted to be manually actuated, linkage means directly connecting said operating lever to said shallow water drive link for displacing said shallow water drive link to said position affording engagement with said thrust pin in response to movement of said operating lever, said linkage means including means affording lost motion between said operating lever and said shallow water drive link.

7. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 and further including a reverse lock movably mounted on said swivel bracket for releasable engagement with said thrust pin to releasably hold said swivel bracket in the normal running position and wherein said linkage means is operable to displace said shallow water drive link independently of movement of said reverse lock.

8. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said linkage means includes a link and wherein said means affording lost motion comprises a spring portion included in said link.

9. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means affording lost motion comprises manually actuatable spring means.

10. A marine propulsion device comprising a support bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a thrust pin carried by said support bracket, a swivel bracket, means connecting said swivel bracket and said support bracket for pivotal movement therebetween relative to a normal operating swivel bracket position and a shallow water drive position raised relative to the normal operating position, a reverse lock movably mounted on said swivel bracket for releasable engagement with said thrust pin to retain said swivel bracket in the normal operating position, a shallow water drive link mounted on said swivel bracket for movement relative to a position for releasable engagement with said thrust pin to retain said swivel bracket in the shallow water drive position, and selectively operable control means mounted on said swivel bracket and including an element operably connected to said reverse lock, and operably connected to said shallow water drive link for controlling releasable engagement of said thrust pin by said reverse lock and for displacing said shallow water drive link relative to said position affording releasable engagement with said thrust pin.