I have a 1990 Johnson 88 with the motor down and the up trim on the handle(factory installed) failed. Is there an override in rear to trim up? Is there a way to disengage the trim manually pull the motor up while boat is in the water?
If your Trim motor is non-functional:
On the trim motor on the starboard side of the transom bracket, there should be a hole where a screwdriver slot is, this is a release valve. Clockwise is tighten, counter-clockwise is loosen. You will probably need to lift the motor up enough to allow you to turn the valve without resistance.
That release valve will allow you to manually lower the motor to the start of the trim or raise it up as far as it will go. You have to tighten the valve when the motor is at the desired position.
This relief valve will NOT lower the motor to the lowest point entirely, only to the start of the trim.
If you merely just have a failing trim/tilt switch, it is possible at the tilt/trim junction box to jumper 12 volts to the green or blue terminals (only one at a time) that go to the trim/tilt relays.
Don't guess doing this, if you don't know what you are doing, you need to have the trim/tilt wire diagram pulled up and refresh yourself on basic electrical testing fundamentals.
The factory OEM service manual covers the steps on what to do on diagnosing when your trim motor does nothing.
