Johnson 120 (probably 1987) trim tilt release screw doesn't release

[bobd254]

Hi folks,
I've got a new to me Johnson 120. When I rotate the screw counterclockwise to release the pressure and allow the motor to drop down nothing happens, it doesn't relieve the pressure and allow the motor to go down. The trim tilt motor operates and there is some movement, I was trying top off the fluid.
The only thing I can think of after reading a few other posts is that there's a lot of sludge blocking that relief valve screw.
Any ideas you've all got to get that relief valve working would be appreciated.
(Also posted elsewhere) It was suggested to stand on the cavitation plate and try to get it to come down, I'll try that.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[stresspoint]

? is the trailering lever in the correct position for it to come down ,had to ask .

when this happened on a mercury years ago i used a ratchet strap hooked to the leg and down to the trailer to get the motor to start moving , once it stated to move i tightened the screw and used the trim motor to get it all the way down ,
once cycled a few times it come down with the screw loosened .

 

[bobd254]

Yes, thanks!
When I got it, several months ago, it would cycle pretty much through the whole trim degrees. But the tilt cylinder wouldn't move under power. you could take it manually from there and pull it all the way up to full tilt even without releasing the screw I imagine just air In the cylinder or something physically wrong with the seals.
Now that I went back to it , I had left it with the trim all the way up and now it pretty much won't move from that position at all and any direction.
The motor will always cycle .
So at this point I release the screw to try to push it down from no tilt and full trim and it won't move down at all either with the motor or with the screw turns out and pushing down manually.

 

[bobd254]

? is the trailering lever in the correct position for it to come down ,had to ask .

when this happened on a mercury years ago i used a ratchet strap hooked to the leg and down to the trailer to get the motor to start moving , once it stated to move i tightened the screw and used the trim motor to get it all the way down ,
once cycled a few times it come down with the screw loosened .

I'll give that a try tomorrow!