There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

[blackbayouhunter]

I have a 1984 Johnson 140. One day T & T works great. Get ready to go fishing ..... check T & T fine. Get to dock & nothing. Cant raise motor off the motor toter. Get home T & T works at all three stations !! Wiring harness in relay box has been replaced as well as the transom switch. Any help appreciated !

 

[muskrat]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

Check all grounds & connections,sound like the trim motor is going out.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

open your tilt control box, remove solenoids, and swap places with them.

 

[blackbayouhunter]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

open your tilt control box, remove solenoids, and swap places with them.

I can do this, but what am I finding out ?

"Muskrat", I had these problems last year before bein called out to work & checking connections was the first thing I did. When I cleaned the connections in the relay box, everything was fine for many trips to the lake then the "phantom" began striking again. No hesitation when working. Is there any particular place else tha I might be losing ground?
Also is there a way to simply test the motor aince it shows absolutely no hesitation when the "phantom" is away? Is there a possibility that one of the other switches is going bad ??....... and THANKS guys !

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

I'm assuming that you're saying that your problem is that the electrical PTT motor does not work.

In addition to cleaning all wiring terminal ends, also clean whatever they attach to. And if you might be overlooking the main ground in back of the plastic relay box, the one that grounds out to the powerhead via one of the two box retaining bolts, clean that one along with that portion of the powerhead, then tighten it securely.

Testing the motor...... simply disconnect it at its plug in connector, then run a couple jumper wires from the battery directly to the Green wire and the Blue wire of the electric motor.

 

[blackbayouhunter]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

I'm assuming that you're saying that your problem is that the electrical PTT motor does not work.

In addition to cleaning all wiring terminal ends, also clean whatever they attach to. And if you might be overlooking the main ground in back of the plastic relay box, the one that grounds out to the powerhead via one of the two box retaining bolts, clean that one along with that portion of the powerhead, then tighten it securely.

Testing the motor...... simply disconnect it at its plug in connector, then run a couple jumper wires from the battery directly to the Green wire and the Blue wire of the electric motor.

I have done all the above. This is really frustrating due to the "never know" situation. It is working fine now, but I may pull it to the lake & have nothing when I reach the dock. Is there a possibility that one of the two remaining switches is going bad? I reversed the relays like tashasdaddy advised. Opened relay bok & cleaned & checked all connections.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

May be a stupid question but, you said you checked the wireing in the relay box, did you check the relays themselves? I had a bad relay once and my motor acted the same way.

 

[blackbayouhunter]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

May be a stupid question but, you said you checked the wireing in the relay box, did you check the relays themselves? I had a bad relay once and my motor acted the same way.

Not a stupid question as far as I'm concerned ! How are you talking about checking them ? I'll GLADLY pay the pricr for TWO relays to get this resolved !

 

[RRitt]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

when dead is it dead at all switches?
If yes then it is safe to assume that problem is not any single switch.

when dead are there any other electrical devices that don't work?
If no then it is relatively safe to assume that you have good power into the control circuit.

I doubt it is the motor. When a motor hits a dead spot on a brush it doesn't just magically run the next day. But it would not hurt to hot wire it and jumper it until you are satisfied that it is or is not the motor.

So where does that leave us now?
It could be a bad ground to the solenoid. It could be a bad ground to the motor. It could be a bad positive to the solenoid power circuit (the high amp one). It could be a failing circuit breaker in-line with solenoid power. It could be the solenoid itself. Actually - i would bet a wooden nickel that it is the solenoid. Its one of those parts that gets all intermittently if moisture ever gets inside of it.

BTW - do your relays look like this?
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=330-073

If so, then I would replace them just to eliminate them from your list.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

I had the exact problem once. Being a techie the first thing I did was bought two new $20.00 relays. Fixed! worked perfect - for one trip.

Found after some investigating I found that the spade connector - the part the relay plugs into in the mount below had been pushed down into the block. The relay was touching the tip of the spade connector and not sliding into the connector. So it would work for a while then nothing.

I grabbed the spade connector lip with some hemostats, pulled it up into the base of the block and it's worked flawlessly now for two years.

Good luck!

 

[blackbayouhunter]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

when dead is it dead at all switches?
If yes then it is safe to assume that problem is not any single switch.

when dead are there any other electrical devices that don't work?
If no then it is relatively safe to assume that you have good power into the control circuit.

I doubt it is the motor. When a motor hits a dead spot on a brush it doesn't just magically run the next day. But it would not hurt to hot wire it and jumper it until you are satisfied that it is or is not the motor.

So where does that leave us now?
It could be a bad ground to the solenoid. It could be a bad ground to the motor. It could be a bad positive to the solenoid power circuit (the high amp one). It could be a failing circuit breaker in-line with solenoid power. It could be the solenoid itself. Actually - i would bet a wooden nickel that it is the solenoid. Its one of those parts that gets all intermittently if moisture ever gets inside of it.

BTW - do your relays look like this?
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=330-073

If so, then I would replace them just to eliminate them from your list.

The plug configuration is different. I will post a pic up later. Where can I find schematic on the whole T & T system ?

 

[blackbayouhunter]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

RRritt I just talked to my local marine dealer/ parts dept. Per his information, the only solenoid on this model Johnson 140 is the starter solenoid. Only PTT motor, two relays & switches re: electrical components. Any other ideas other than replacing the relays?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

I assume this problem will be ongoing for awhile. Next time this takes place, check to see if 12 volts is being applied to any of the RED wires at the PTT switches.

If not, tracing backwards should reveal the problem area.

 

[blackbayouhunter]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

I assume this problem will be ongoing for awhile. Next time this takes place, check to see if 12 volts is being applied to any of the RED wires at the PTT switches.

If not, tracing backwards should reveal the problem area.

Thanks Joe ! Gonna do that and / or rewire the whole T & T from relays to the bow switch !! This problem is no fum ! Many other things need done to this project Ranger 335V !

 

[RRitt]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

RRritt I just talked to my local marine dealer/ parts dept. Per his information, the only solenoid on this model Johnson 140 is the starter solenoid. Only PTT motor, two relays & switches re: electrical components. Any other ideas other than replacing the relays?

replace the word solenoid with the word relay and go from there

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: There is a ghost in my tilt & trim !!!

Unlikely that two relays would be intermitent.