Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

[Bartman07]

I'm a newbie with little mechanical experience, but I usually can figure things out.

I've putzed for hours on my 92 90hp outboard mercury tilt/trim. Here is the full story. Sorry if the details are boring, but maybe some of the details can help figure out the problem.

I was on the lake when the tilt/trim quit working, but the prop was in the water just enough to get me to shore. When I got to shore the tilt worked just a bit, but it was working backwards. The down made it tilt up and up down. I got it home and it worked shortly again.

The next day it did not work at all, but when I tried I heard some clicking. I opened up the motor and found the solenoids. At the time I did not know what they were, but after inquiring at the NAPA store and internet research here, I tested the current at the wires below the solenoids and I'm 90% sure they are not the problem since I'm getting current with my voltmeter.

My father in law thought it might be the brushes so I replaced them. After replacing the brushes I could hear the motor doing something, but the tilt still wouldn't work. I opened up the motor after that and it was hot and smelled like electrical burning.

I didn't want to open up the bolt on the bottom of the electric motor to check the fluid because of safety reasons. I couldn't find any easy to understand info on line to ease my reluctancy to do that; however I did it tonight and maybe an ounce of fluid came out. I have no idea if that is possibly the problem. After draining out that little amount of fluid I was expecting the motor to come down, but it didn't..... yet.

After all that does anyone have any suggestions? Again the simpler the info the better since my exposure to this type of thing is very limited.

I called an electric motor repair shop to have them look at it, but they want me to pull it off and bring it in, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to.

I appreciate any comments.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Bart, Find the manual release and turn it. Now you can raise the motor manually and check the fluid level. Fill it up with tranny fluid (motor all the way up). turn the manual release back in.

Now check to see that the motor gets power from the solenoids when the trim switch is pushed. You should hear the motor spin. Remember the blue wire should have power on it when you are trimming up, green is for down. That motor has a black wire which needs to be grounded all the time. Replacement motors are availible from ARCO for $200 or so.

 

[Bartman07]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Thanks Chris.

This is how much of a novice I am. Where can I find the manual release?

I know I should get a manual, but I have not yet.

Thanks again.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Bart, Look at the base of the transom clamp on the side. There should be a hole in the transom clamp and a plastic bolt/screw on the PTT unit itself. I believe you unscrew it for manual operation.

 

[elad]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Bart, Look at the base of the transom clamp on the side. There should be a hole in the transom clamp and a plastic bolt/screw on the PTT unit itself. I believe you unscrew it for manual operation.

"transom clamp" is that what it's called? Good to know. I was calling it an engine mount.

Yes, on mine there's a 3/4" hole in the transom clamp. Unscrew the "screw" until the engine lowers itself. If you unscrew it too far it will come all the way out dripping tranny fluid. You can sorta "ease" the engine down just like easing a car down off of a hydraulic jack.

 

[Bartman07]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Thanks for the info.

I plan on giving it a shot tonight and will hopefully be on the water a few more times up here in MN till the snow flys and it's ice fishn' time.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

good luck, get you a manual. When you take in consideration the amount of knowledge and how helpful they are you wont be sorry you got it.

 

[Bartman07]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Thanks, I do plan on getting one.

I was able to trim the motor up after raising it manually.

After I busted my back getting it up, I pulled the plastic plug on the front of the tilt and tried to put more fluid in. It wouldn't take more. I didn't see anywhere else other than taking out the manual release to put more fluid in so I assume it was full.

I then took the whole unit off and brought in to the electric motor repair shop this morning. Taking the unit off was easier than I expected. I spent more time looking for the bolts I lost during the process then I did taking the unit off.

We'll see how it goes. At least now if the motor is shot I feel confident I can put a replacement on with no problems.

Thanks all for your help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury Tilt/Trim problem

Bart, The fill plug is on the resevoir, at the height of the motor's base. It is a plastic hex bolt. After you get the motor running reliably, run the trim up and down several times to bleed the unit. Open the fill screw to let out any trapped air. If the fluid is bubbly, let it sit in the up position until the air bubbles out of the fluid and refill the unit.