OMC Trim/Tilt tSolenoids

[krustyCrab]

Greetings everyone... I am currently in the process of going through a boat i just purchased. I figured I would start at the engine and work my way back... I can honestly say im putting off working on my stringer drive but hey, its my first boat so I didnt know any better when I bought it... Fail me. At any rate I was able to get the engine started and tuned!!! My next step is getting the trim/tilt motors working.

Looking at just the tilt... I traced the blue and green wires from the tilt motor to the solenoids, I then traced from the solenoids to the switch. When I hit the switch down I hear a click (from solenoid) also a test light indicates good power to the tilt motor when the switch is down. Up does not make any sounds nor do i draw any power to the tilt motor. Im thinking that my down solenoid is good and the up is bad... I also think the tilt motor is gone which I fully expected to have to replace. Would you all concur that my reasoning is accurate about the motor and solenoids...

The primary question is can I replace the trim/tilt solenoids (982187) with any 12v 3 post solenoid? I can order the exact one and wait a few days, but im about as impatient as it comes so if i can get a suitable replacement from say Napa or some auto parts store I would prefer to do that.

Now onto the trim motor, this appears to be a hydraulic pump to the two rams on the front of the engine. I traced all wires back to solenoids and switch... I get no power to the motor when hitting the switch in either direction. Im assuming this means my solenoids are bad...

The interesting thing is I do have power to the solenoid cross bar...



Thank You for taking the time to read this...

86 OMC 4.3l v6 Stringer drive YAY

 

[southkogs]

I'm not sure on the '86, but on my '72 it was a pretty run-of-the-mill solenoid that I just picked up at the local part shop. Those babies are pretty cheap, so I'd just change it anyway (I did on mine).

If that tilt motor hasn't worked since you've had it, expect it to be in need of some attention. Gettin' it off can be a real rib-buster to get back to. Be careful of the spring and hammer coupling in there ... they'll try to jump out and run to the bottom of the bilge. You need 'em both and probably don't want to try to replace them (total eBay hunt).

Also, before you go and buy a new tilt motor, run yours down to a parts shop that rebuilds electric starters, alternators and such and see if they can rebuilt the motor. I got mine done a LOT cheaper than buying a replacement motor and it's been working for years since.

 

[krustyCrab]

Im sure it does need attention... You make a good point on having the tilt motor rebuilt, it didnt even dawn on me to do that.

 

[southkogs]

They ain't bad when they're workin' ... but they're a pain when they ain't.

BTW - welcome aboard.

 

[Chief123]

I just went through about the same thing. Have 86 4.3 W OMC drive. In the end I took the motor off, removed the 2 screw that hold the end plate on. Loosing up the nut that holds the power line into motor --then separated the motor. What I found was both brushes were stuck and one brush spring was broke. I looked into a new motor but saw the cost--some listed at $200. +.
After some research I found a good repair kit for about $26. Ordered it here on Iboats, PN was 98491 Seal and brush assembly. Very easy to do. Also just get some fine Emory cloth (sand paper) and clean the part were the brushes ride. One note of caution, when you pull the motor off a small drive pin may fall out. It connects the motor to pump and it can only go back one way. You will also see it can fit in the pump in 2 different places---only one will match up with your motor. Oh one more thing, the end where the power cord goes in was hard to get loose--but it did. Sorry to all for long but like to explain as if to my grandchild to prevent confusion.
Good luck

 

[southkogs]

Reading through Chief's post and then back at your original one, a thought hit me: We're talking about the tilt motor at the back of the engine, correct? Not the trim motor (which I'm not sure where it is on yours). On a Stringer drive, the tilt is strictly for tilting ... some Stringers came with a trim feature, but it's a completely different apparatus located elsewhere in the system (mine's the jackscrew mess on the front engine mounts).

Don't use your tilt as trim. You can use it as shallow water drive at low RPM, but that's about it.

 

[krustyCrab]

Yes @southkogs, I was initially refering to the tilt motor(up down on the sterndrive) and not the trim motor(up down on motor mount rams). However come to find out both motors were shot, and all four solenoids were replaced as well...

@chief, I did attempt to rebuild the tilt motor myself, I failed in a blaze of glory but if i ever had to attempt it again, I know where I went wrong.

 

[southkogs]

... However come to find out both motors were shot, and all four solenoids were replaced as well...

That's typical. My trim motor is still shot. Haven't dealt with that yet.

... I did attempt to rebuild the tilt motor myself, I failed in a blaze of glory...

I'm not that gutsy, :thumb: good job takin' a shot at it at least.

 

[Randaddy]

Okay I bought a basket case 84 4winns with a 170 merc. I am putting it back together and trying to hook up the throttle and trim/trailer buttons. I get power to the switches but nothing at the pump. I tried jumping across the solenoids still nothing.I have been reading on here and I have seen about trim pumps and tilt pumps. I have only found 1 on mine mounted oppisite side from batteries. It's a good size pump with what looks like a oil filter on bottom and 2 solenoids. any help with testing would be helpfull thx.

 

[southkogs]

EDIT: Just saw your other post. You've got a Merc.

 

[River's Revenge]

Geetings. I too have a tilt problem, the trim works fine with about 4 inches of travel. but when i push tilt... nada. so i see the gear and motor assembly but this is all new to me on how it works. This is off a 1976 Slickcraft SS194. any help understanding the basic would be great. just pulled it into the garage tonight. Here we go with another oproject.

 

[krustyCrab]

Geetings. I too have a tilt problem, the trim works fine with about 4 inches of travel. but when i push tilt... nada. so i see the gear and motor assembly but this is all new to me on how it works. This is off a 1976 Slickcraft SS194. any help understanding the basic would be great. just pulled it into the garage tonight. Here we go with another oproject.

Are you getting power to the motor, thats the first thing I would look at. Ill do my best to explain w/o technical terms LOL... So the tilt motor connects to the intermediate on the inside of the transom, there is a hammerblow coupling that engages the tilt shaft, the tilt shaft then turns the tilt clutch (which can be all taken apart and put back together with minimal effort). When the tilt clutch engages the gear should turn thereby moving the halfmoon gear up or down. Inside the tilt clutch theres this weird kind of rod, I learned that if that rod is not set correctly in the channel then the tilt clutch wont do a damn. I took apart the clutch twice before I got it correct. With that said I have a new tilt motor and it draws a hell of alot of juice, so with the engine off I can tilt down no problem, but the tilt up needs someone pulling up on the leg while i hit the up switch. If the engine is on, i can go up and down no problem.

I replaced the tilt motor for just about 100 bucks and the solenoids for 24 each. All in all 150 bucks was well worth knowing it was gonna work.

Also to note, water can get into the tilt clutch box from what ive heard, you may want to take the cover off and verify.

If you need a better explanation or some more information let me know.