engine now on engine stand .. have a few ?'s..

[bsteckel]

i got my mariner 150 outboard on the stand i got from harbor freight ..
gonna start working on thermostats, new hoses, etc. and a general clean up. looks like the previous owner kept the boat in the water and there is a lot of crap on the mounting area.


only problem is that even with it mounted on the lowest holes, the skeg hits the engine stand foot. maybe if i tilted the motor up, it would fit the stand better. saw the manual release on the side of the motor .. loosened it, but still was not able to lift the engine to tilt it. can i use a jumper wire and a battery charger to get the tilt motor to run?

also, the motor sways from side to side on the stand ... it leans to one side and gets very tippy on the stand. it would be a lot safer if i could get it centered. what is the best way to lock the steering to get the motor to be centered and keep it there? blocks of wood????

i am sure someone here has some experience with this..

thank in advance.