79' merc 260 trim/tilt up no down HELP!

pgcountry10

Recruit
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
4
I have a 1979 merc 260, The trouble is the the tilt/trim its a one solnoid, 2 switch set up. It goes up no problem but will not go down, The pump runs in when you hit the down switch but no response from the drive. I recently found that the wires to the trim limit and sender switches were both rotted away so i bypassed the limit switch for now. The sender wires i did nothing with yet, would that have anything to do with it?

The drive is stuck in the up position so i cant really get a accurate reading on the fluid level, but just looking in the fill hole i can see fluid. i have took the vent scew all the way out and still no change. I was thinking about going to the cylinders next to check for pressure there. The cylinders have 2 lines and they both go in the bottom. Any help in the right direction would be much appreciated. Thanks -Mark-
 

zbnutcase

Commander
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
2,055
Re: 79' merc 260 trim/tilt up no down HELP!

Those pumps don't have a lot of 'down' pressure and what happens is corrosion builds up in the cylinder end caps and causes them to stick. Rebuild or replace the cylinders.
 

incrediblened

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
148
Re: 79' merc 260 trim/tilt up no down HELP!

Hey, I've got a pair of them that I'd sell you for $100 plus shipping. I've still got the gimbal housing that I'd sell too if you needed it for parts. I just took apart a 1979 Beachcomber boat with a 260. Give me a call. (913) 73I-262O -Ryan
 

pgcountry10

Recruit
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
4
Re: 79' merc 260 trim/tilt up no down HELP!

Well the pump having low pressure makes sense, i got it to go down with the pump but only if i stand on it. When iam not standing on it and i try to put it down from mid way it slowly trys to do up when down is pressed. Also i tryed bleeding it no change and the line are almost impossable to get off haha. Where might be a good place to get a rebuild kit if the cylinders still seem to be the problem. Thanks
 

broken08

Cadet
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
9
Re: 79' merc 260 trim/tilt up no down HELP!

may sound crazy, but mine was stuck after 2 years of storage. thought pump was bad....
i was pissed so i went and hung on it while wife pushed down. it went right down and works fine fine.
maybe just seized.... give it a go
 
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