wiring an '83 70 hp Evinrude

[SARAH C]

I just bought my first boat, and have no idea about outboard motors or their wiring. Trouble is the tilt on the engine only goes one direction...down... and has to be lifted manually. Any suggestions on what I can do to repair the problem. Is this something I can attempt on my own, or should I have someone look at it?

 

[DJ]

Re: wiring an '83 70 hp Evinrude

Sarah,<br /><br />Welcome aboard!<br /><br />First off, yes you can fix these yourself. Get a manual, available here on iboats. It will be the best $30.00 you ever spend. See link.<br /><br /> http://www.outboardrepairs.com/manuals/ <br /><br />Now, for your tilt problem. That engine has a seperate breaker box for the tilt/trim. It is probably located near the back of the boat somewhere. It is about 6" by 5" and is black.<br /><br />Remove the cover. there are two breakers in there. Switch them and see if your problem is now reversed. If so, you have a bad breaker/connection.<br /><br />If it doesn't change, just reply to this post, with your findings, and we'll go from there.

 

[SARAH C]

Re: wiring an '83 70 hp Evinrude

actually the guy I bought it from has been touching two wires to the battery to make the motor go down. He did not know how to get it back up. THe wires are green and black and go to positive and negative respectively to make the motor go down. I accidently swapped the wires today and the motor went up. Go figure...I need to figure out how to wire it so I can use the switch. You think the manual will help? I will look for the fuse box too, but with the wires all disconnected, I don't know if that will help. Any other thoughts?

 

[DJ]

Re: wiring an '83 70 hp Evinrude

Sarah,<br /><br />The manual will definetely help.<br /><br />Look for the box. It should have: a black and red going in-from battery. I think those are the two you are reversing. You are essentially eliminating the control/breaker box. That's why the switch does not work.<br /><br />The switch will have a red, green and blue. Red is "common". Blue is for up, Green is for down. Just like green grass on the ground (down) and blue sky above (up).<br /><br />The manual will show you which wires go where in the box. <br /><br />In the meantime, check out your local library, they may surprise you and have a manual you can at least copy a page or two out of.

 

[SARAH C]

Re: wiring an '83 70 hp Evinrude

No luck finding the breaker box anywhere. I guess I will have to wait for the manual. Any advise on how to care for the engine on a use to use basis?

 

[SARAH C]

Re: wiring an '83 70 hp Evinrude

Now touching the two wires to the battery doesn't even work. WE took the boat out for the first time yesterday and couldn't get the motor all the way down. How frustrating?