Rookie with a Tilt and Trim Question

[FuddleyPJones]

Hello Gentlemen-

This is my first outboard over 15 horse and never with a trim feature. I can raise the motor to its limit but it will not lower. I can hear the electric motor running but the engine will not lower. If I hang on the engine while the electric motor is running it will lower - very slowly. However, the engine will not lower at all if the electric motor isn't running. The sound of the electric motor raising and lowering is different.
Where do I start?

Thanks for your patience.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rookie with a Tilt and Trim Question

what motor do you have??? please read this http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=250879

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Rookie with a Tilt and Trim Question

I always like to start with the easy methods.Oil or grease all hinge points and the lift piston.Make it raise and lower with any means possible.see if it gets any easier.also check fluid level.Charlie

 

[FuddleyPJones]

Re: Rookie with a Tilt and Trim Question

Sorry Tashasdaddy,
I did indeed read that link already but at 2 AM with one eye open I guess I forgot to add the critical info. Just so you know, prior to posting I spent over an hour reading several threads but they did not get 'er done - so I asked...


The motor is a 1979 Johnson Seahorse 115 V4. Model #115TL79R. It has been sitting uncovered in the New Mexico sun for at lease 5 years before I got it. It is attached to a 1980 Infinity Model #204XL 17' boat and the whole thing is weather damaged but restorable - if my patience holds out.

I have already spray-lubed every hinge point and piston shaft that I can find. I thought about checking hydro. oil levels but 1) dont know how/where to do so, and 2) it seems that if there is enough oil to get 'er up then there should be enough to get 'er down.

When the trim cylinder pistons come in contact with the motor body as I force her down with the trim button pressed in the "down" position they do not budge and it seems that they should as the motor is not seated all the way down before it hits these two trim pistons. It takes all my weight to get the motor to trim down so perhaps the additional resistance of the trim pistons is greater than weight of my fat ***....

Can you help me find the reason for the down not working???

By the way, Here is a good explaination of Tilt and Trim...

http://www.marinews.com/boat_article_details.php?recordid=37

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[FuddleyPJones]

Re: Rookie with a Tilt and Trim Question

I found the reason for the trim not working correctly - If you want to know.

It seems to have been a bad connection at the key switch - believe it or not. When I was messing with the trim switch I also had jossled the key switch and the down began to work - as opposed to just the motor sounding.

A connection had come loose at the key switch and with a new screw I tightened the connection at the keyswitch and Walla! Up and Down - yea!!!

I wonder if there is a way to bypass the keyswitch somehow with a jumper of somekind at the solonoid control to verify that the motor is working OK. Does anyone know??? This would be a good troubleshooting technique to narrow the search.