Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

[DK in Chicago]

When you give the trim pump a good whack, like good only Fonzi would to get the jukebox to work, it works... lol Other wise it is just clicking when trying to raise or lower the outdrive...

The boat has a 3.0 mercruiser with an Alpha One outdrive. I haven't had this problem over the past two years until this spring. This winter I stored the boat with the drive down, not sure if had anything to do with it or not, but that is the only thing I know that was different.

Last week, when the pump really started acting up (Having to click the buttons up & down 10-20 times before it would kick in) I checked the fluid and it was milky white, so I drained that out and put new oil in, worked like a charm until I got it out of the water (Phew!), and couldn't get it to work since, all it would do is click, but not move. So I read all the posts I could find here and came away with the fact that if it's clicking, it's likely a connection issue. So I cleaned every one.... Nothing... That's when I just banged on the top of the pump three times, and then tried it.... BINGO! lol It then would go up & down wonderfully, until I left it alone for a few minutes, then.... back to clicks only again. Smack it a few times again... Works like a charm.

So I ask all the experts.... What does that mean????????

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

Means if you miss you get a good bruise.
solenoid contacts might be dirty/corroded, motor brushes may be sticking. Use a jumper from the battery to the blue(up) and down(green) motor leads. Motor works= solenoid problem or connection
motor dosent work= sticky brushes, bad armature

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

OK, I did jumper from the battery to the blue and green wires and got nothing, when I jumpered to the post on the top I did get the click.

What am I getting myself into diagnosing from this point so I don't have to wear my leather jacket every time I'm out on the boat??

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

The click could be the solenoid closing the contact.

Did you try and clean the contacts. By removing the wires off the termials and wire brush and reinstall. Not just the surface while they are on.

No ground will also not let the pump run. (possibly the actual pump ground). It would effect both up and down solenoids.

Do you have a test light or multi meter to test for power at various places?

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

Just reviewed posts on stick/dirty brushes, and that sure sounds like my problem. When I looked up the brushes, they look like 2 little chunks of metal attached by threaded copper, what would you clean? how do you tell if your armature is bad?

Ya, I took off and cleaned all sides of the power, green, blue and fuse wires....

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

5A-22 in manual 6 has the trim motor
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A5R3.PDF

 

[DK in Chicago]

Re: Trim Pump only works when "Fonzi'ed"??

5A-22 in manual 6 has the trim motor
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A5R3.PDF

Thanks Bt Doctur! I was looking for that for the past 20 minutes!!
Looks like this is my fix... I'll find out tomorrow...