Trim pump problems 1987 Yamaha ProV 150

[Angrywasp]

Picked up the boat about a month ago and it runs great but on the last few outings the trim has been acting up. It will work fine sometimes but other times it will trim up or down very slowly, stop while trimming, or just not work at all. When it trims slowly or not at all I can mechanically agitate the motor itself with the handle of a screwdriver or similar item and it will eventually resume trimming. It does it from both the trim control on the motor and throttle trim. If it's the motor itself I've got no real problem replacing it but I just wanted some outside opinions.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Trim pump problems 1987 Yamaha ProV 150

More than likely it is a bad relay. Took my old one apart last week, motor only has 220 hrs. on it, was intermittent like yours. 3 out of the 4 contacts points were burned. Unfortunately that relay is around $250. Relay is not built as well as you might think.
Guess you will go for the motor first. About $181 from sierra outboard parts. If it is a salt water motor, expect to break the 3 or 4 motor mount bolts. While you are working on it, try to open the manual by pass valve. Dont be surprised if you need an impact wrench if you have never opened it before. regards FRED

 

[Angrywasp]

Re: Trim pump problems 1987 Yamaha ProV 150

I'll check the relays today before I get a new motor or relays. Didn't even think about the possibility of them being bad.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Trim pump problems 1987 Yamaha ProV 150

Something intermittent like that can be hard to isolate. The relay may sound like it is clicking real good and it is but the actual contacts can be burned and pitted. From what I saw, thats the weak part of the relay. They are not really points like you would expect, just pimples and dimples pressed into a thin piece of metal.
Hook jumpers to both leads on the relay and check for voltage while operating the pump. You should still have 12 volts at the meter if the pump operates as the meter is in parallel. If the pump quits you should have also lost some or all voltage at the meter as the contacts will not supply 12 volts under a load. Years ago my employer entered the space age and provides us with FLUKE digital meters. I could never adapt to the digital readouts, ( remember the digital dash read outs on car? Did not last to long! ) Turned out the FLUKE meters did not put enough load on a circuit and we went back to using trusty SIMPSON 260 analog meters. Is something reassuring about seeing a needle actually move.
Will try to sneak this by. Am getting ill, cleaning up my stash for the wife, one thing going on the street is a trim motor. 4 bolt if you need it. regards FRED

 

[Angrywasp]

Re: Trim pump problems 1987 Yamaha ProV 150

I've actually got a digital fluke and get to use it and a simpson at work. Both definitely have different strong points. I got to test the relays yesterday and they seemed to work just fine. I got 12v every time I hit the switch in both directions even if the motor didn't run. I cycled the switches probably a dozen times in both directions and the motor ran maybe 3 times each way and never like it should. Battery was good and charged too (12.7v). New motor is on the way. Mine is a 3 bolt but thanks for the offer FRED. Now I'm trying to figure out why my Bass Master's trim is drifting down. Never rains but it pours.