Re: johnson tilt/trim struggles going up
if your trim unit goes up and holds without bleeding down then your internal pump seals are fine.
If your system does not leak or seep oil from the shaft seal then your piston seals are okay.
When either of these two conditions arise, then it is time for hydraulic rebuild. Otherwise, you're good.
The viscosity of oil has minimal impact on system performance. If you operate in bitter cold then replace ATF with AW32 hydraulic oil. AWx is designed for all weather operation. During periods of bitter cold the moisture can separate out from oil and freeze. Use and engine bracket and bump your tilt down against for storage. Some systems split like a pipe if the pressure is not released. Using the manual release valve is not reccomended except for very long storage. The valve will break if used frequently.
Old motors often have a sludge buildup around the brushes. During cold weather the sludge can thicken and affect motor performance. It should go away once the engine and motor are warmed.
trim motors draw approx 1.5Amps per volt. Even a 1V drop in the cables, connections, or battery can have a substantial impact. More than once I have forgotten to turn on the trickle charger for the rebuild bench and the battery has weakened. A weak battery causes the same symptoms as an old, tired trim motor.
