Old Johnson 85 hp, Tilts Up But Not Down

[ggray]

I'm helping my neighbor with her old boat. The motor is over 20 years old, two stroke. Age old issue, hasn't been run, so things deteriorate. Trims up fine (it's all the way up now), but switching "down", we have the same sound, plus a screech along with it. I'm guessing there is a control valve that directs the fluid to the proper side of the piston, and it isn't working.

I had helped her with the motor last year, and it worked fine. But it hasn't been used since....

Is there a simple fix, something to check? I know I've given few specifics about the motor, which I can determine if necessary.

 

[F_R]

"Old 85" doesn't tell enough. There were several very different tilting systems. It would help to know which one we are talking about before diagnosing the problem. Start with a model number of that 85, and is it a power tilt or is it a power tilt & trim ?

 

[emdsapmgr]

First of all, make sure the trim reservoir is full. And that there is no water contamination.

 

[ggray]

I'll check tomorrow.

 

[ggray]

The motor is a 1997 Johnson J90TSLEU, ser #04277271.
I will search how to check the fluid.
How critical to top off, if needed, with a specific T/T fluid? I see online that some folks use ATF.

 

[boobie]

Have the motor all the way up and top the fluid level off with Dextron 2 ATF. Then cycle it up and down 5 times and re-check the level.