1987 120 Johnson, (J120TLCU) Sn 7026632,Tilt/Trim

[1Chief101]

Motor is on a 16' pro style bass boat that I bought used in 1997 after retiring from 30 years in the Air Force. Normal minor boat and motor troubles, but last October, while just boating with my visiting son, Tilt/Trim became "jerky" going up and down. Decided to Just come in and take it home. It has been in the garage since, and I just have started to work on the boat. Tried the Tilt/Trim and it did sort of jerk up just a bit and then I couldn't get it to come down. Got out my zeroxed copy of the manual and besided the "exploded" view of the unit, there is not much info to troubleshoot the unit... I started searching the "net" looking for some info and found and registered with iboats.com Forum. Great site! I managed to key in on Tilt/trim problems on Johnson/Evenrude and looked through all 50 pages of corrispondance. Could not find anything on my particular motor, but I think that I found many others with simular problems and have read each offered solution. God willing, tomorrow I will try to apply some of the advice given and see it I can get it working properly..... Unless someone out there knows something specfically percular about my motor. Anyway, guys, Great informative site.

Bill

 

[imported_lorin]

Re: 1987 120 Johnson, (J120TLCU) Sn 7026632,Tilt/Trim

Try adding fluid. If it wont go all the way up using the tilt motor, open the manual release valve on the side of the transom bracket a couple of turns. Remove plug from tilt resevoir and squirt in fluid till it's even with the bottom of the fill hole. Replace plug and run motor up and down a couple of times with tilt motor. (Must close manual release valve first). Repeat the entire above procedure once or twice.

 

[1Chief101]

Re: 1987 120 Johnson, (J120TLCU) Sn 7026632,Tilt/Trim

 

[1Chief101]

Re: 1987 120 Johnson, (J120TLCU) Sn 7026632,Tilt/Trim

Thanks lorin
I read a lot of that advice in the forum before I wrote the Thread, an today I did just as you and others suggested and it works fine now. I never would have thought that it was low on fluid as I have never observed a leak from the unit. Ha; After I squared that problem away, I diecided to see how well the Johnson would turn over and all I got was the tell tale click of the solinoid..... Tomorrow's job....it never ends!

Bill