trim issue on '86 Dt55

[das fisch]

So another trim issue. I have a 1986 DT55, power trim was working very well. now up is a breeze, quick, quiet, no issue. down though is sssssllllloooooooowwwww... and sometimes pauses. the really weird thing is that when i first took it out of storage and went to trim down i saw a slight puff of smoke come out of the area shown in the circle below (where the lower hinge mounts to the lower unit) and now it seems to get fairly warm in that area just from trimming. didn't know there was anything down there dealing with the trim mechanism. maybe a short or faulty wire sending juice down that way.
Also has anyone ever made a block off plate to cover the hole where the cooling water sensor should be. reason i ask is mine is missing (previous owner) and I can't seem to readily find one. figure if the tell tale stream is strong i can be pretty confident we're running cool.

 

[das fisch]

Re: trim issue on '86 Dt55

checked fluid, topped off. no kinked line that i can see.

 

[das fisch]

Re: trim issue on '86 Dt55

alright, here's another one.
i cleaned the carbs out real well last night (definitely needed it), i can now only start the engine by spraying a bit of gas into the plug holes, then have to run it at about 1/2 throttle to keep it going. also when i put the muffs on, before the engines up and running water spews out around the muffs, doesn't seem like much if any is getting up into the motor. probably have to pull the lower unit. have not checked impeller yet.

 

[robert graham]

Re: trim issue on '86 Dt55

with muffs on and engine off, there's really more water going in than can move through the motor, so it comes out around the muffs. when you crank up the motor maybe less comes out around the muffs. probably no problem there as long as you have water coming out of pee hole. good luck!