Thomas,
Is your TM a Minn Kota or a MotorGuide???? Did you just recently buy the boat from Mike?? White and black boat?????

Knowing Mike, I'm sure he ment it as 'don't buy gas w/10% unless you have to'.

As for the TM sticking, try pushing down on the head of the unit with one hand and pull the cord with the other if it's a Minn Kota ...... often times that takes the pressure off the shaft that is putting pressure on the pins ..... thus allowing them to unlock easier. My Minn Kota Edge on my duck boat is like this due to it being new ..... the Minn Kota Maxxum on my Skeeter is broke in enough that I don't have to do it.

If your boat is the white and black SX190 boat he just sold then it's got a MotorGuide on it doesn't it?