Mercury Kicker shift in the handle. How do you like it?

[Dinikin]

Seems like a nice little feature. Never had trolled or back trolled with one. Do you find it better than shift lever on the handle in Yammies?

[12pulls]

Originally Posted by Dinikin

Seems like a nice little feature. Never had trolled or back trolled with one. Do you find it better than shift lever on the handle in Yammies?

Only downside is the fact that you can't rev a motor without it being in gear. But it works nice if backtrolling or you are fighting a fish. Either is more convenient than the Honda or Evinrude with the shifter on the side of the motor. My Merc works fine.

[Dinikin]

None of the kickers I had were able to rev in neutral.
I notice that going in reverce I can gain some RPM's before shifting, but it knocks when engages. Might need some adjusment.

[MattPark]

There's adjustment in there for whatever you need throttle wise.

I have had nothing but problems with mine. The accelerator pump jet loves to clog for no apparent reason (everything else in the carb is spotless). No accelerator pump = no cold start without 75 pulls or starting fluid. Had to replace both shift cables last year, if the designers of the engine expected them to last, they need to put the pipe down. Burns oil like a two stroke if you run anything over half throtle (it smokes more than a two stroke, and no it hasn't been overheated).

Once you spend the time and money figuring out every little problem, it will drag a herring around. You need to adjust the idle to the correct trolling speed, as it has only two speeds down low, idle, and way too damn fast. Talk about a touchy throttle. A touchy throttle makes a kicker garbage IMO.

I'll make you a real good deal on it.

[Dinikin]

Matt, what is the year and model of that motor that give so much trouble?

[12pulls]

Mine is a circa 1990. Once it was adjusted it was and is fine. Starts in 3 pulls ice cold, 1/4 pull when warm.

[Flatfish]

I had a couple of the 8 horse 2 strokes. Loved em. Never hiccuped.

I'm on my 2n'd YammieT-8 now, and the shift feature is definately on the short list of things I would change.

[Klamanite]

I have an '06 4-stroke. There is a button on the side of the cowling that you push which will disengage the shift mechanism so you can rev in neutral.

[Get Bit]

The absolute only way to go IMHO.

Get Bit

[Bobberman]

Best feature on a Kicker out there(besides power tilt) and mine(2006 pro kicker) can rev in neutral, just hit the button on the side.

[ondarvr]

I have one and love it for side drifting, but for most other types of fishing it doesn't make much of a difference.

[Dinikin]

So from what I know, Tohatsu makes them powerheads for Mercs.. They look identical under the cowling.

[Dinikin]

Learn something new here every day.
There is actually a buton you could push and rev the motor all day long without being in gear. Nice. Very nice.

Originally Posted by 12pulls

Only downside is the fact that you can't rev a motor without it being in gear. But it works nice if backtrolling or you are fighting a fish. Either is more convenient than the Honda or Evinrude with the shifter on the side of the motor. My Merc works fine.

[Blind Bobber]

I would rather have the shifter seperate. No problems except it is hard to get into neutral to restart and revving up in neutral ia a problem as others said. I have a 95 25 Horse Merc 2 stroke aI'm gonna look for that button on side of c0owl. Doubt I have it though it would be nice. My Merc has been good to me as has Steven's Marine.
BLIND BOBBER

[Dinikin]

I know about concern revving 2strokes in neutral. Bad idea. Not sure what the concensus for 4stroke is. Mine is 2005 and 4strk, need some experts to tell when that rev in N button got incorporated into them motors

[honker1]

Had a '90 Mercury 2-stroke 8hp motor that I added the Troll Master throttle control to troll with. I could set the throttle control to 100 and this would bypass the throttle/shifter in the handle and the motor would rev in neutral. Worked great on those mornings when you just needed a little extra throttle without going into gear to warm the motor.

[danger]

I much prefer the Yamaha (T8) shift handle set up. For a couple reason...

1) I can run the motor (steer it) very comfortably with my hand on the shifter. Get the perfect spin and let go of the throttle. The shift handle is also vertical which is a nice change of position some times.

2) I can reach back in a hurry and slap the motor out of gear if I need to.

3) Easy to shift with slimy hands. I always had a hard time with the merc handles when my hands were slimy.

[fishkisser]

[slowdawg]

I have an early 90 with the shift in the handle. It works well on the drift boat. I like it an have never had an problem with it.