Tilt and Trim intermittently working

[Rosscoe]

Hi all, <br /><br />The Tilt and Trim on my1994 Johnson 120 has been working intermittently for a while now, it used to stop working only for a few pushes on the cowl or control box buttons, but now it has become worse and will not work for quite some time.<br /><br />I have done the test mentioned here to test the cowl buttons, but it still does not go up or down when I touch the wires together. So I don't think the cowl switch is the problem.<br /><br />I pulled the cover off the Juction Box and when I push the down cowl button I can hear the Relay clicking and when I push the up button there is no noise at all, in both cases the motor will not lift up or down. If I keep clicking the buttons all of a sudden it will decide to work and lift up and down.<br /><br />I pulled both Relays and the flat pins on both are covered in a black tary sealant stuff that looks like it has seeped from where the wires enter the plug that pushes on to the Relays.<br /><br />I have a couple of questions:<br /><br />1. Could this tary stuff that is on the flat Relay pins be causing the problem? ie. bad connections.<br />2. If so, is there a way to clean the stuff out from inside the plugs?<br />3. Could it be that both Relays are duds and should be replaced?<br />4. Or could there be another problem I should look for?<br /><br />Thanks, any help appreciated.<br /><br />Cheers Rosscoe

 

[Rosscoe]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

Anybody with any thoughts?<br /><br />Cheers Rosscoe

 

[Marc J.]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

Even with my limited experience, I am willing to help. Disconnect the trim motor wires and apply voltage directly to the trim motor. On my motor the connection is very near the t-stat housing. Reverse the polarity and the trim motor will change direction. If the motor responds, check the connections near the relays. If they check out, look into some new relays. I believe i-boats carries them.

 

[Rosscoe]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

Thanks for the reply mate, will investigate over the weekend and see how I go. From what you have said I suspect it may be the relays as the motor seems to be working fine.<br /><br />Cheers Rosscoe

 

[OBJ]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

Good advice Baja! Rosscoe, the relays are sealed with a compound that is soft and rubbery to the touch. Keeps the moisture out of the inside of the relay. Look at the bottoms of the relays. If this stuff is gone, that's where all the stuff came from on the relay sockets. This goo is kinda hard to remove. Scrape the heavy away and use a electronics parts cleaner to clean the sockets out.

 

[Rosscoe]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

Thanks for the reply OBJ, I assume you are talking about the clear sealer around the relay pins?, if so this is all still intact and doesn't seem to be missing. The stuff i'm talking about is black and is all around the plugs where the wires go into the back of the plugs and seems to have seeped through onto the relay pins. I will get some electronic parts cleaner and give the plugs a good clean out.<br /><br />Cheers Rosscoe

 

[OBJ]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

I've run across that stuff on occasion to Rosscoe....dangdest stuff to remove. Not real sure what it is.....maybe some stuff the factory put in there for corrosion protection. Seems like it gets into everything eventually.

 

[Rosscoe]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

OBJ, have since found out its OMC Terminal Grease, comes in a small white tube and is use to seal the plugs and wires to stop corrosion.<br /><br />Cheers Rosscoe

 

[Rosscoe]

Re: Tilt and Trim intermittently working

Thanks to all who replied, I have bypassed everything and wired the trim motor direct to a battery, the motor worked fine in both up and down directions, so now I'm going to replace both the relays and that should solve the problem.<br /><br />Cheers Rosscoe