Adjusting a manual Slidemaster jackplate??????

I need to lower my Slidemaster jack plate a tad and cant find any information on how to do it properly.Ive loosened the two bolts on each side of the jack plate, but when I turn the 1-1/8" nut on the top middle of the plate, nothing happens.I sprayed some Liquid Wrench on the sides of the jackplate, thinking that perhaps it has taken a set over the past few years of non-movement or adjusting.When and if I ever get it to freely move up and down again, can anyone explain how to properly align the sliding clamps on each side with the two bolts????Thanks in advance!

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 9 months ago by Tx76.

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August 22, 2010 at 4:04 pm #400560

1stinLA
Participant

when adjusting mine I find it is easier if you trim the motor down until it just touches the ground to take the bind off the slides and then trim up as the motor goes down. I usually use a 2×4 under the motor so that I dont mess up the skeg. I use a sharpie and mark the plate on both sides and this helps me see if it moves evenly.

August 22, 2010 at 4:32 pm #400563

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Thanks for the tip 1stinLA!Will try the 2×4 trick, though I still have a question regarding proper placement/alignment of the side sliders with two bolts on each side.Right now, with all of the bolts loosened, each side slider can move up and down approx. 4″ After I get the plate lowered where I want it, need to figure out which position is correct to tighten those sliding side clamps.Its probably very simple but I want to make sure I do it right and keep everything safe.Been searching the net all morning to no avail, nothing on YouTube either….amazing, as I thought everything was on YouTube!

August 22, 2010 at 5:41 pm #400568

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

There is a little it of play in the ram stem assembly that translates into no movement till the rod hits the thread stops. If you keep turning the stem bolt with the 1 1/16″ nut on top it will eventually begin to move. You can also shake the engine to activate this and the plate will fall slightly with no bind. Those side plates you just remove a bit of tension with and then put them back in place and resecure them. BCB

August 22, 2010 at 9:24 pm #400569

fishmagnet
Participant

I tried the 2×4 trick 1stinLA suggested and trimmed the motor all the way down to contact the 2×4 on the floor of the garage thus putting a little pressure on the jackplate, then trimmed the motor up slightly and the bracket/mount finally broke free.This action was just enough to break free the bind I mustve had on the jackplate, and the motor mount-jackplate finally slipped down into place.A couple of more turns on the large center bolt got the jackplate/engine to the lower desired depth.I then slipped both side sliders on each side with two bolts up as far as they would go and cinched them down tight with a ratchet.Thanks all!

August 23, 2010 at 12:11 am #400572

Tx76
Participant

The wiggle trick helps to even out the sides for me. Sometimes it gets in a slight bind and raises/lowers a touch unevenly. Hope you get the desired results!
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