1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

gas0lean

Cadet
Joined
Dec 27, 2003
Messages
7
Hi guys and gals,<br /><br />For Christmas the family was lucky enough to get a new boat. It's a 18 and a half foot glass cabin cruiser powered by a pair of 1977 70 hp Evinrudes.<br /><br />Please forgive me if these questions have already been answered, I did do lots of searches.<br /><br />Both motors have power tilt, but only one is power tilt and trim. <br />So my first question is, is that normal for a twin outboard setup? or is one outboard have a wire loose or something? I'm new to this as it's the first time we've had power tilt motors. The motors look identical with the canister things on the starboard side and the hydrolic ram thingys that push it up and down (I did tell you I was new to this right? lol :D ) As far as I know everything is stock, nothing has been modified on these motors.<br /><br />The next part of the question is, can the trim be added to the outboard that doesn't have it? is it just a matter of wiring it up or is it a physical thing that I can't do anything about?<br /><br />When we took the boat out to test it before buying I noticed these motors don't seem to have tell-tales. How easy is it, (if possible at all) to put tell-tales in? If I went to my local marine mechanic and asked him to put in tell-tales, would he just laugh in my face? or would it be an easy (and hopefully cheap ;) ) thing for him to do?<br /><br />Thanks for any help in advance. I really like these help boards, I've learnt alot over the past week. :cool:
 

R.Johnson

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
4,446
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

I'm not sure I understand you correctly on the TNT, but it sounds like both motors have it. As for the tell-tales, I would install water pressure guages. You say these engines are on a cabin cruiser so you probably could'nt see the tell-tales anyway.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

gas0lean,<br /><br />Take a look at your engines in the full up position. You should see three hydraulic rams on each. If you see three, they both have trim and tilt. <br /><br />It is possible that only the tilt is working on onne of them.<br /><br />I agree with the installation of H2O pressure guages. Much more useful and easier to keep an eye on.
 

gas0lean

Cadet
Joined
Dec 27, 2003
Messages
7
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

Thanks guys for the help,<br /><br />when both motors are raised, there are 4 rams to each one. Two big ones on the outside of their mounting brackets and two smaller ones inside right underneath. The boat is parked at a friends place so I'm just going from memory. On the starboard motor these smaller rams have been cut off and removed, would this be the reason why there is no trim? I was told that they were just shock absorbers and didn't do anything.
 

deofc

Seaman
Joined
Nov 8, 2003
Messages
61
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

Don't know anything about the Tilt&Trim. I have a 78 70HP Johnson and the tell-tale or "pee hole" is on the transom side of the motor - it shoots the water toward the transon instead of out the side or behind the motor. You cannot see it when the boat is in the water and running unless someone else is driving and you lean over the back and look (really hard to do unless water is extremely smooth). Easier to see if you put the muffs and garden hose on. Don't know why Johnson made them this way unless mine (and yours) are the only ones like this. Next time I have it in the shop (hopefully never) I will ask the mechanic if there is someway to redirct it so it can be seen.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

gas0lean,<br /><br />You are correct, there are four on yours. There are no shock absorbers.<br /><br />Which ones were cut off, the inner or outer?<br /><br />Or, are the inners just fully retracted? You may just have a low fluid condition.
 

gas0lean

Cadet
Joined
Dec 27, 2003
Messages
7
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

deofc - thanks for that info, i'll have to have a closer look next time i'm in the water.<br /><br />djohns19 - the small inner rams have been cut out. So from what I gather the outer bigger ones do the tilt and the smaller inner ones do the trim, is that correct? I'm assuming the previous owner had to cut them out because they seized up. :rolleyes: <br />I can't understand why people don't bother with a simple spraying of wd40 here and there, it only takes a few minutes. I used to do it all the time with our previous boat, a little spray before it hit the water and a little spray when it got out and it never had a problem.
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

The internal stern bracket mounted TNT with 3 rams did not appear until 1978. '73 to '77 tilt and trims had the external rams, one on each side attached to a steel bracket. The trim motor was also external, outside of the stb. ram.
 

gas0lean

Cadet
Joined
Dec 27, 2003
Messages
7
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

seahorse - thanks for the info, what exactly does a trim motor look like? All i see on these outboards are 2 large external rams on the mounting bracket and 2 smaller ones on the inside, with a external cylinder on the right side of the mounting brackets.
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: 1977 70hp Evinrude tilt/trim, tell tale questions

Bingo, the large external cylinder with the wire coming out of it on the stb. side.
 
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