trim/tilt not working

[mtorts]

hey guys i have a 1996 mercury 2 stroke 115hp oil injected outboard. I recently noticed that when i am driving at low speeds the motor will not trim up. If i am able to trim it slightly it slowly falls back down. When driving very slow or in neutral it trims just fine. It also works when driving at top speeds. I spoke on the phone with a mechanic and he is saying that basically the whole unit has do be replaced. He says that the seals and cylinder id shot and cant handle the pressure of the wake at low speeds. It would cost be $1200-$1500 to fix. Does this sound right or does anyone have any other ideas. I was hoping i just needed to add some hydraulic fluid but i guess i was wrong.:facepalm:

 

[Dave1027]

Re: trim/tilt not working

That mechanic's diagnosis over the phone does not sound right at all. You need to take the boat elsewhere because this guy sounds like a crook.

It's common for these to leak down slowly. Could be the manual release valve leaking.

Does the trim motor run when you say "when i am driving at low speeds the motor will not trim up"?

 

[mtorts]

Re: trim/tilt not working

yes the trim motor runs you can actually see the motor moving trying to trim up but it just doesn't have the power to. Like i said it works at top speeds and when at a low idle or in the driveway but the mechanic said eventually it will stop working all together and will have to be replaced which is my biggest concern.

 

[yaltasydney]

Re: trim/tilt not working

Kinda agree with Dave1027, you really need to take it to outboard hydraulics specialist or good marine mechanic to know what's going on, think it could even be a point of a loose hose/cylendar cap allowing the oil to leak or not enough oil in hydraulic system - could be a pretty cheap fix. Failing that it could actually be a problem with the whole unit and then you'll be up for a bit of dollars. Good luck

 

[RRitt]

Re: trim/tilt not working

you probably got water in the system and rusted out the trim limit spool valve. You'll need to rebuild the ram since top seal is the likely leak that let water get in. After rebuilding ram then bolt system back together using a new screw & seal kit. That should fix the hydraulics for a while. 1996 means a 15 year old rocker arm pump. You'll need to avoid debris like the plague and be super gentle with the release valve. Your system is getting close to the age where these two items begin failing. The parts to make repairs will probably end up costing you $80-$150. If another, third part breaks then you'll be to the point where it is cheaper to have someone else fix it than pay mercury prices for the parts. Check ebay for the trim spool kits. They show up frequently for about 1/2 price.

The smart money is to look at your trim motor and guesstimate how many years are left. The 1996 motors generally last until the cable jacket frays. Water gets inside the wiring and creeps back into motor causing bearing failure. The 3w motors would last almost forever if people kept their cable tails in waterproof condition. At any rate .... if a new motor is in your future then swapping out for a new system is probably a smarter choice. You can get a full rebuild for under $250. But if your motor goes bad then you're looking at another $180-$250 for trim motor & wiring kit. For $450ish you can get system with new motor and yellow filler pump design. If your old motor has years left then repair is a better value. If your old motor is dying then full replacement is usually the better value.