Tilt controls

[amishboy]

Just bought a 1981 Viking Deck Boat in awesome shape with a 90hp Johnson outboard. It looks as though there is electric tilt but I don't see the controls on the console. There is a tilt/trim gage. Any idea where the controls would be on this boat?

 

[Fed]

Re: Tilt controls

On the controller, operate it with your thumb.

 

[amishboy]

Re: Tilt controls

No buttons on the throttle control. I did notice on the right side of the throttle control there is an imprint that says tilt/trim. The throttle control handle has an opening on the right side but no buttons. Maybe it was removed.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Tilt controls

Is there one on the side of the motor? But not all have them.

Are you sure the motor has one? if not, want to send us some pics?

Anyway the controls are almost always on the throttle but it may have been disconnected

 

[amishboy]

Re: Tilt controls

I will post pics. When I lift up the motor, there is a large round cylinder on the right that looks like a solenoid and is wired. In the center is a large pneumatic piston. I have never owned electric tilt so not sure what I'm looking at. There is a birdsnest of wiring in the stern that I need to straighten out and perhaps I will find cut wiring in that mess.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Tilt controls

that's a tilt unit. We are on the trail.

How do you raise your motor--manually? If so, your tilt unit has been disconnected/disabled and the pressure released.

On the side of some motors, there is a flat up/down button, located on the bottom half of the cowl, on the side. My 1988 Johnson had one; my 1986 doesn't. Does yours? If so, what's the status of the wires inside the motor from it?

There is a standard color for the wires to the controls but I don't remember them.

Are there two stainless steel pins, about the size of a dime in diameter, retracted, down at the base of the unit, that the motor rests on? That's the power trim, which is typically part of the unit, although I have had 50hp Yams that only have the tilt (big hydraulic) but it works as trim.

If it has been disconnected, you will probably need to rehab it--which usually means replace it, and that means pulling the motor off. Old parts are hard to find, unless you get a matching parts motor.

Let;s see what you have, then we can figure out how to test it to see if it's worth saving.

 

[444]

Re: Tilt controls

A previous owner of my boat added extra trim buttons on a little button pod in the rear by the motor, so you can get some generic type buttons to operate your power trim instead of changing the controls. If you are able to tilt the motor by hand, there is no pressure in the trim system, most likely all the oil is drained out. Could have been left like that if the trim pump died or there was a leak in the system that someone didn't want to fix. Power tilt/trim is a very nice toy and I would definitely get it working if you have it.

 

[amishboy]

Re: Tilt controls

Yes I do have the trim buttons and yes I raise the motor manually. They had a block of wood under the motor keeping it tilted for transport. I will look again for buttons on the motor. Will try to post picks as I don't know what a connected tilt system looks like.
It looks as though there may have been electrical issues on this boat. There is a big roll of wire in the bow underneath the bow light as if the light wires were cut at the junction box and rolled up front. There is a plastic box mounted on the floor at the stern that says "fuse box." Underneath is what I assume to be a very rusty metal junction of some sort. Many wires and I don't know where they all go. Bilge pump and horn does work and engine starts..so far so good. I am also disapointed to find the motor supports available at Walmart and most places do not fit my trailer...oblong support holes are about a foot apart.
Thanks for help. I plan on getting in the water Sunday...if the world doesn't end Saturday.

 

[amishboy]

Re: Tilt controls

I just realized, looking at a parts diagram, that box with the metal junction and wiring is probably part of the tilt-trim. I should be able to trace the wiring to see where the controls went. 1/3 of our lake is around 3' deep so I really need to work on this.