97 Force 120 Tilt/Trim Problems

[cucklebur]

Went to raise my 97 Force 120 yesterday and it won't lift (motor does not even turn) but it will go down. Switched relays and only down works still. I hooked my multimeter to the blue & white wire (per SELOC) at relay plug and I get juice when down switch is hit. Hook to green & white wire at plug and I do not get juice. I'm assuming the wires were installed in reverse since SELOC states blue/white wire powers up directon and Green/White powers down. In the process of trouble shooting I dumped most of my fluid whivh was a red liquid. My questions are:

1. What is the proper fluid for this unit? - oil was red.

2. How do you remove the switch from the handle on my remote control. - It's a Quicksilver remote control. I didn't see any reference to it in my SELOC manual.

3. What is most likely place to look for my lack of power to the green/white wire?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[RRitt]

Re: 97 Force 120 Tilt/Trim Problems

There are four main fluids. Jack oil, ISO32 hydraulic fluid, ATF, and motor oil. Your system won't break until warranty is over no matter which fluid is used. If you use jack oil, iso32, or ND30 then system goes 20-30 years. If you use the cheap ATF 13-15 years. That's a no-brainer for mercury. Use the cheap fluid. It is win-win for them. The save a dime in factory. Your system breaks after warranty and they get to sell you expensive parts at any price they want.

That is quintessential mercury. DUH! Of course it's cheap ATF.


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don't mess with switch yet. you're putting cart in front of horses. take the wires lose from relays and go straight to a battery. make sure system works. If you did the relay test correctly and system still only goes down then your system is broken and it has nothing to do with wiring and electricity. So, let's hope that there was a mistake in the relay check. Wire the system direct to a battery and confirm that your system works.

 

[cucklebur]

Re: 97 Force 120 Tilt/Trim Problems

Does ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid or is it some other special oil? I guess it is their version of "planned obsolescence".

I did hook the pump directly to a battery and the motor runs fine in both directions. I swopped the relays twice and it was the same result...down works only but the motor does not respond at all when I hit the up button on the remote. I get a good current on the blue/white wire at the relay plug when I hit the down switch on the remote but I get no current on any wire (green/white or blue/white) when I hit the up switch.

I was tickling the up trim switch on the remote and it briefly made a connection and started up but then stopped. That's what has me thinking it might be the switch in the remote handle.

What's your thoughts based on that info?

thanks!

 

[RRitt]

Re: 97 Force 120 Tilt/Trim Problems

got it. you aren't swapping the relays by flipping the two bullet connectors - you are literally swapping the relays. Swap the switch wires. If your switch is built into the handle then you should find a pair of bullet connectors where the handle wiring stops and boat wiring begins. flip the up & down control wires. If on console then you should find pair of bayonet connectors that you can swap. if problem stays same then you may have a cut wire between switch and outboard.