'83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

[ohyeah829]

I bought an '83 Johnson 140 hp with my boat. When I first used it, the trim worked fine. After we put it in the water and ran it, we pulled the boat back out and the trim will not work now. I can hear the motor working in the trim, but the engine is not moving. I tried adding fluid to the trim, the two hydraulic valves started moving up and down, but the engine still did not give way. I've come to the conclusion that the problem is in the hydraulics and not the electrical because I can hear the motor trying to work. But, am not sure. I would appreciate any help I can get on this, before I have to spend hundreds to fix it...Thanks!!

 

[Jilly - 5]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

I assume you're talking trim, and not tilt. I also assume that when it first worked, the engine was going down, helped by gravity, and that the trim is faltering trying to raise the engine. Try manually assisting the trimming up of the engine and see if your helping hand helps it up. If it does, you've got either leaking seals inside the trim pistons, or the engine is binding on its rotation spindle (the big hinge), or both.

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok. The tilt is not working. I tried bleeding the lines from the manual release and refilling the trim with fluid. Now, I have no hydraulic pressure on the engine...meaning if I manually raise the engine, it fallas straight down when I let go instead of slowly coming down. Like I said, it worked fine when I first used it the other day.

 

[Walker]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Raise the motor all the way by hand and put the manual locks down so the engine stays up. Now fill it with fluid. Flip the manual locks off Then cycle it up and down several times to clear the lines of air. Raise it back up and top off the fluid.

 

[Mod2]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Posted by R.Johnson<br />

Open the manuaL relief valve, lift the engine all the way up, and lock in place. Close the relief valve with the engine still locked in place, and see if now, the unit will take fluid. The unit must be up to add fluid. If the unit now work's, run it through several up, and down cycle's to purge it of air. Run it all the way up, and again top off the fluid. Leave it all the way up, and check for fluid leak's around the cylinders, relief valve, and fill plug. Be very careful around the engine when making these check's. You don't want your hand's in the way if it were to come down. Let us know what you find.

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok. I've lifet the engine, locked it down and filled it with tilt oil. (I suppose...I don't see how you tell if it's full or not...but no more is going in) Now, I hear the tilt motor working, the two cylinders are moving, but not enough to raise the engine. Kind of like there is not enough umph to raise the engine. Any other ideas??? Thank you everyone for your help. I'm really grateful...

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

The cylinder's you see moving are the trim cylinders. Will the engine move through the trim range?

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok. I'm really not sure what you're talking about "through the trim range". When I use the trim up or trim down buttin, the two cylinders move to the point where they will retract out of sight and they will move up until they touch the motor. After that it acts as though the engine is to heavy to lift. Making me believe that there is a hydraulic problem...I hope this answered your question....if not, please let me know.

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok. Also, I've noticed that when I filled the trim up with oil, when I use the up/down button the manual release valve is leaking. Not a lot, but enough you can hear/see it. Sounds like a lot of air. I'm going to try manualy raising and lowering the engine to see if this helps.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

If the manual relief valve is closed off, but you see leakage, or hear air, you just found your problem. Tilt & trim mean's just that. Trim starts at the bottom of the cycle,It will balance the boat at the best planing position. Tilt is used when trailering, or beaching. You should really have, or get an owners manual for this engine. Learn how to run it, then how to fix it.

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok. I have the user manual. Is there a way to take the bolt out of the manual relief valve? I've tried unscrewing it, but it never comes out. It just turns and turns. I was thinking there may be a gasket or washer that may be missing....

 

[Solittle]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Get the air out of the system and you problem will go with away.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

The manual relief valve is held with a cir-clip. You have to remove that to get the valve out. Is the Tilt & trim unit now working, other than the manual relief valve leaking fluid? That valve works by being opened, or closed at 90 degree's. If closed, it should not leak fluid, or air. If it does, change the valve.

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Is there a special way to remove this cir-clip?? I've tried pushing it to the side, but to no avail. I'm sure you're correct and the problem lies in the manual relieve valve leaking, but I just can't remove the screw. Is there also some sort of gasket or something behind it that has to be replaced??

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok. I've gotten the clip out. I had to run to Wal-Mart and buy a precision style tool to pull it out. I will run to the outboard store tommorrow. Will keep you updated on my progress and keep posting my questions...Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[ohyeah829]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Ok...I've got the trim working...it will go up, but....not down. I believe there is probably air in the line...is there a special way to get it out?? The trim motor is working, but not moving the motor down...any suggestions??<br /><br />I can use the manual release valve to lower it...

 

[OBJ]

Re: '83 Johnson..trim/tilt not working???

Go back to the posts' saying how to fill the reservoir. With the engine all the way up, top off the reservoir and cycle three or four times and leave the engine all the way up. Remove the fill plug and top off as needed. Repeat.<br /><br />If the engine doesn't go down, use the manual release to get it down and then raise with the tilt. If you do it like this, once the engine is all the way up, top off the reservoir again which also lets the trapped air out when you open the plug. Eventually, it will work both ways.