SHIFTING
GEARS
Always be certain that there is ample room around the boat when trying to start the en-
gine in forward position as the boat will move forward when the engine starts. Contact
with other boats, docks, shallow waterway bottoms, or debris may result in damage to
the boat that is not covered under warranty, and may also result in serious injury.
Never operate the starter motor continuously for more than fteen (15) seconds with-
out at least two (2) minute resting intervals. Failure to do so may result in the starter
overheating, which is damage not covered under warranty. The ignition key must be
released after the engine has started to avoid damage to the starter motor and drive.
• Alwaysallowtheenginetowarmuptonormaloperatingtemperatureof140F.(60
C.)priortoplacingtheboatingear.Electronicswillactasagovernor,orrev-limiter,
topreventtheboatfromreachinghigherrpmbeforetheenginehaswarmedup.Also
ensurethattheengineoilpressureisgreaterthan10psi,accordingtothegaugeonthe
instrumentpanel.
• When shifting gears,alwaysmovethethrottle/shiftcontrolleversmooth-
lyandquicklyintogear.Hesitationsandslowgearmovementcandamagetheshifting
mechanisminthetransmission.Alwaysallowtheenginespeedtofalltolowidle(600
to800RPM)beforemakingagearshift.
• Thethrottle/shiftcontrollevermustmoveforwardforty-five(45)degreesoftravel
fromneutraltoengageforwardgear.Becausethelevercontrolsbothgearingandthrot-
tleresponse,continuingtomoveforwardwillincreasespeed.
• Reverseoccurswhenthethrottle/shiftcontrolleverispulledbackfromneutralatleast
45degreesoftravel.
When moving between forward-neutral-reverse or any combination of gear settings,
always all the engine to fall to idle (600-800 RPM) before completing the shift. Failure
to do so may result in damage that is not covered under warranty.
This is not a land vehicle. Therearenobrakestobeapplied.Tostopaboat
requiresadvanceplanningandoperationsthatmustbecompletedbeforereachingthedock
orbank.
• Bringthethrottle/shiftcontrollevertoneutral.
• Iftheboathasbeenoperatedforanextendedperiodoftime,orathighRPM,allowthe
engineacool-downperiodatlowidle(660to800RPM)forseveralminutes.
• TurnthekeytotheOFFpositiontostoptheengineanddrivetrain.
• Coastintothedockorbank,followinginstructionsprovidedbytheboatmanufacturer’s
Owner’sManualtoproperlystoptheboatwithoutdamagingthehull.
STOPPING
THE BOAT
2011 ILMOR MV8 Owner’s Manual • Page 26