Trouble raising and lowering outdrive.

[hz]

1969 OMC 350 and outdrive. The drive lifts OK sometimes and other times it lifts a little at a time and then when the switch is toggled sometimes nothing happens. Because it's intermittent, I'm thinking that it either has a loose wire or needs a new switch. I can chase the wire but I'm not sure whether to get a spdt, dpdt or ???. Any one know which switch to get and if it could be something else. The boat had sat for about 3 years.

Harris

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Trouble raising and lowering outdrive.

I can chase the wire

that's what you need to do - follow the wires back from your motor - 40 year old wires need inspecting.
Look for heavy 10 ga. green and a heavy blue wires...
(green grass=down, blue sky=up)

it ain't likely an issue with the switch - the switch is on the low current side of the 2 relays (18 ga. wires same colour code).

remove all the heavy gauge terminals from the 2 relays - file the terminals shiny on both sides - then file the side of the nut - most of the corrosion issues I see are with the nut.

Some boats - not sure about 1969, had 2 50A fuses in the supply to the solenoids- they like to corrode on the barrel ends - clean them up with some steel wool if you have those fuses..

This schematic should be close:
http://hhscott.com/evinrude/images/wiring/73_OMC_V8_all_big.jpg

after you fix up the wiring - you might want to grease the trunnion bearings where the outdrive pivots -if you haven't done it twice a season like the book says, the grease might be all hard in there and you might need to disassemble to clean

Also check the oil in the tilt clutch housing- and make sure the cover has at least 1 gasket-shim - i always put 2 - see lots of boats with just sealant because someone thought it was a gasket to keep the oil in - it's not - it provides clearance for the big brass gear in there.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Trouble raising and lowering outdrive.

If all you're getting is clicking, I'd question whether the solenoids are bad. Also make sure you have a good battery & a full charge.

Otherwise, I'm with Howard Sterndrive. Those gaskets as shims have bitten me a couple times myself, so I also put two on there (you can get gasket making material to make your own cheap).

Make sure you don't have too much play in the tilt shaft coming out of the tilt housing too. It can bind on the quadrant gear if it gets too lose and gets ****-eyed.

 

[bugzy_1]

Re: Trouble raising and lowering outdrive.

I had the same issues on my '79 120 Merc. I found out it was the hyd. pump motor.
The brushes and holders had rusted and were making poor contact with the armature. The brushes were good so I cleaned it up and put it back. It has work fine since.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Trouble raising and lowering outdrive.

his isn't hydraulic, but motor condition and brushes are good to check eventually, if the simpler, more common fixes don't yield results.

Where his tilt motor is located, is tough to access, which is why it's left to the end..