Tilt/Trim question.

[JoHerring]

After a lot of looking around it looks like what I thought was a 1993 motor is actually seems to be a 1982 motor (Mercury 40 HP, 4 Cylinder, 2-stroke, serial: 06138161) on a 1993 pontoon.
Anyway I'm having a problem with the trim, I managed to find the release screw so that I could lift it into the up position. After re-tightening the screw and pressing the down switch on the side of the motor, it will go back down. But it won't go up. I can hear the pump motor working, but it will not go up. I opened the oil filler nut on the front and some oil came out (the boat is currently on a fairly awkward slope backwards, so I'll have to figure out a way to fill it again and what oil to use).
I am also wondering what the 5th screw is for on the top centre-left of the pump, it is raised and must have some special purpose (see attached photo).
Any hints or ideas on what could be the problem would be most welcome.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

Don't mess with the motor. It either works perfectly or should be replaced. Don't even try to get an exact replacement. The newer motor with square body and yellow filler is a better product that will fit your system. So forget that fifth screw. Nothing but bad can come from messing with it.

As regards your failure to lift. It is your fluid pump. You need a hydraulic rebuild. Better to do everything than just one part. Your [particular revision has no debris filter and any one part can set off a chain reaction.

 

[JoHerring]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

Thanks for your reply RRitt.
The electric trim motor seems to be working just fine and seems to want to lift the engine, it just nudges it and then keeps on running but the engine won't lift.
I'm on a really tight budget right now and looking for the least expensive way of dealing with this.
Is it possible that it could just be an inner seal or gasket in the fluid pump?
The history is the engine would not stay in the up tilt position, approximately 15 minutes after raising it to fully out of the water it would be back to low position. Then one day after a ride it just decided not to go up anymore after we got back from a ride. There are no visible leaks anywhere, either on the RAM casing or anywhere else on the whole assembly.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

the seal kits from mercury cost as much as a full rebuild from somebody who buys industrial orings. Same seals. Just a couple hundred extra dollars for the quicksilver plastic bags. I think your only cheap way out is learning to live with it.

 

[Hackamore]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

Check your oil resovoir, sounds like you may not have enough oil in it, that is why the motor is running and the system just bumps. Also when you fill it, make sure the motor is in the full down position, or you will over fill it. When it works run the motor all the way up and then all the way down a time or two to pump all the air from the system. Good luck.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

I doubt it is oil but you should get on flat land and make sure. Fill system raised. If low fluid is problem then every time you add some oil and then go up-down-up it will go a little higher than before. Personally, I think your system is just old and needs to be rebuilt or replaced. I think Mercury lists the 1992 system as obsolete and no longer available. Check Ebay or craigslist and you may find a replacement for just a few hundred bucks. If you buy used then figure you will get 15-18 years out of a Merc system before it breaks. The systems with yellow filler plug a the better internal design.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

The first thing to check is the fluid level. Open the manual release 3 turns and raise the engine. Use the tilt support lever to block the engine up. Tighten the manual release, then check the fluid level. It should be even with the bottom of the fill hole. You can use automatic transmission fluid if it's low. Release the support lever and trim the engine down.

Test to see if it will trim up. If not repeat the above procedure again. It make take several times to purge air in the system. If the fluid level shows full and it still will not trim up, the manual release valve may have a damaged O ring.

To check it raise the engine and block it with the support lever. unscrew the manual release valve. There will probably be a C clip that needs to be removed to get the valve all of the way out. Have a container ready to catch the fluid. There should be three O rings on the valve. If they are in good shape then your problem is most likely the pump.

 

[JoHerring]

Re: Tilt/Trim question.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will let you know how it all goes.
(for some reason the email notifications were being directed to my spam box)