Creaking/popping power trim

3ric

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
104
My new to me 2018 Mercury 150 four stroke makes a creaking/ popping sound when I raise and lower the motor. I can’t seem to isolate the sound, but I think it might be coming from the power trim hydraulic ram. That being said, I can’t find a single grease zerk on the thing. The parts diagram shows it to have one, but doesn’t show where it goes. It does seem to leak a bit of fluid out the ram.

Q1: where/how do I lubricate the hinge
Q2: Any ideas on the problem or remedy for the creaking/popping
 

Dukedog

Captain
Joined
Oct 6, 2009
Messages
3,470
check tha little "roller" type balls at tha end of tha trim rods and tha pads on tha sadle they ride on.......
 

3ric

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
104
Any chance its the tilt tube?
Certainly a chance. I ran it up and down several times, assuming that was the source, but I just couldn’t get a positive ID. But like I said, there doesn’t seem to be any means of greasing the tube
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,328
Gee, most outboard motors have a grease fitting for both the swivel bracket and the tilt tube. You might look closer. Some OBs have other zerks for other things. I.E. My '77 Merc had a zerc for the distributor movement in addition to the zerk for the swivel and trim pivots. My '93 Merc has a zerk for the tilt lock, in addition to the other normal stuff.
 

3ric

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
104
salt water operation?
I don’t think so. The previous owner said no, but he also failed to mention the severely bent prop shaft that I overlooked, but I’m confident he was aware of. But i bought the boat in east Texas, so certainly plausible
 

3ric

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
104
Gee, most outboard motors have a grease fitting for both the swivel bracket and the tilt tube. You might look closer. Some OBs have other zerks for other things. I.E. My '77 Merc had a zerc for the distributor movement in addition to the zerk for the swivel and trim pivots. My '93 Merc has a zerk for the tilt lock, in addition to the other normal stuff.
Right!? But I looked in all the usual places. The swivel has a zerk. So far, the only zerk I have found. Maybe the tilt tube has sealed bearings?
 

That old Mercury

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 12, 2023
Messages
150
My new to me 2018 Mercury 150 four stroke makes a creaking/ popping sound when I raise and lower the motor. I can’t seem to isolate the sound, but I think it might be coming from the power trim hydraulic ram. That being said, I can’t find a single grease zerk on the thing. The parts diagram shows it to have one, but doesn’t show where it goes. It does seem to leak a bit of fluid out the ram.

Q1: where/how do I lubricate the hinge
Q2: Any ideas on the problem or remedy for the creaking/popping
On an older mercury mine creaking and popping was coming from the main cylinder pins , they go into fiber bushings . You may have a cover on each side with 2 bolts holding it on. You can try wd40 .
No grease fittings on mine.
Mine was only in fresh water.
And i did burn up the trim pump motor using it while it was creaking and popping.
I wound up pulling off one side bracket at a time with motor suspened sanding cylinder pin cleaning bushing and drowning it in marine grease , put it back and bolt it back to boat then done the other side.
It is a trunion cylinder on mine so the pins are made onto the cylinder
on mine i could drive the pin out .
Its a Pain!
If its the pin and bushing sticking
Pay someone to do it !
The slide plates are Hard to get off that pin.
Hopefully you just have some air in the lines and you are hearing that noise.
 

3ric

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
104
On an older mercury mine creaking and popping was coming from the main cylinder pins , they go into fiber bushings . You may have a cover on each side with 2 bolts holding it on. You can try wd40 .
No grease fittings on mine.
Mine was only in fresh water.
And i did burn up the trim pump motor using it while it was creaking and popping.
I wound up pulling off one side bracket at a time with motor suspened sanding cylinder pin cleaning bushing and drowning it in marine grease , put it back and bolt it back to boat then done the other side.
It is a trunion cylinder on mine so the pins are made onto the cylinder
on mine i could drive the pin out .
Its a Pain!
If its the pin and bushing sticking
Pay someone to do it !
The slide plates are Hard to get off that pin.
Hopefully you just have some air in the lines and you are hearing that noise.
Thanks, the fam an I went on vacation this week, when I get back I’ll see if I can isolate the sound to those areas. Hopefully just some wd-40, as you say
 
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