1982 mariner 80 wont stay up

[Malaboo]

I recently bought my first boat and today while I was cleaning it I trimmed the motor up but about 5 minutes later noticed it had dropped down quite a bit. I’m new to boating and motors. Here’s picture of the motor. Not sure if there’s any other information you need to help me figure this out.

 

[Malaboo]

Also could somebody please point out where to check and add hydraulic fluid

 

[Texasmark]

I had an 85 hp Merc. with that type PTT back in the mid 1970's. Trying to remember, on that first PTT, shock absorbers were removed from brackets on the engine and engine mounting bracket and PTT cylinders added by Mercury....cheap way to get a PTT out that (probably...didn't check) could be retrofitted to non PTT engines....neat idea. The pump and reservoir were located in the boat....follow the hydraulic lines.

On an engine of that age, I would drain and refill the fluid sump with fresh fluid. Service manual on my engines state that ft the fluid in your unit is red, use automotive ATF...didn't specify type, and if clear, use Quicksilver PTT fluid....Wallyworld sells that in the sporting good section right along with Pennzoil, premium, semi-synthetic TC-W3 for engine lube @ 50:1 ratio.

Once you refill and get through with all that, "burp" the system by running the PTT full up to full down several times. Then check for your problem. If still there, time to replace some orings and valves....Normally something like that comes in a kit.

 

[Malaboo]

I had an 85 hp Merc. with that type PTT back in the mid 1970's. Trying to remember, on that first PTT, shock absorbers were removed from brackets on the engine and engine mounting bracket and PTT cylinders added by Mercury....cheap way to get a PTT out that (probably...didn't check) could be retrofitted to non PTT engines....neat idea. The pump and reservoir were located in the boat....follow the hydraulic lines.

On an engine of that age, I would drain and refill the fluid sump with fresh fluid. Service manual on my engines state that ft the fluid in your unit is red, use automotive ATF...didn't specify type, and if clear, use Quicksilver PTT fluid....Wallyworld sells that in the sporting good section right along with Pennzoil, premium, semi-synthetic TC-W3 for engine lube @ 50:1 ratio.

Once you refill and get through with all that, "burp" the system by running the PTT full up to full down several times. Then check for your problem. If still there, time to replace some orings and valves....Normally something like that comes in a kit.

Thank you! Do you know where I can find out how much fluid to refill with?

 

[Texasmark]

Thank you! Do you know where I can find out how much fluid to refill with?

Easy answer. On the engine mounted unit, between the transom mounting brackets, full is engine all the way up....full tilt....and fill till it runs out of the fill plug...which is slightly slanted to the rear. On a boat mounted installation, full tilt up again and ensure it's full and full there to me would be near the top of the container. I don't remember what my tank looked like on my mid 70's or 80's 850 ( decal on the side had mercury spelled with a small m and 3 stripes running to the rear then sloping down, silver, red, and blue, on a black engine) which had that type of PTT. Volume isn't limited like it is for pumps mounted between the brackets on later engines. So, I doubt that just "how" full you decide to fill it shouldn't be all that much of an issue...filling in full tilt up position.