power tilt/trim problem

I recently purchased a 1995 boat with a Mercury 40 horsepower outboard with power tilt/trim. The boat has not been used the past two years. The engine runs fine but the power tilt will not lift the engine. While depressing the tilt up switch I can manually lift the engine only about 1/4 of what it should tilt. The tilt motor sounds as if it is operating properly but the motor will not lift.

Re: power tilt/trim problem

Sounds like you're low on hydralic fluid. Get a Seloc engine manual to get the filling procedure. If it's that low you might have a leak somewhere.

Re: power tilt/trim problem

I purchased the Clymer shop manual and it is very detailed but it does not cover the topic that I now need. <br />I tried the manual release valve and the motor still would not manually completely raise...it was still only raising about 1/4 of the way. Since I had it raised as far as I could get it I removed the fill plug and under pressure the fluid drained. When I tried to fill it according to the manual only a very small amount of fluid went into the reservior (about two tablespoons) before it ran out the fill hole. I would guess about a pint of fluid had came out under pressure. I would think that the cylinder has drained and I need to refill the cylinder. The shop manual does not cover this topic. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: power tilt/trim problem

That happened to me first time too i had to unscrew the vent screw in order to let the fluid go down.

Re: power tilt/trim problem

assuming that you have the single ram system. Assuming that you loosened the manual release a full 3-4 turns. And assuming that after this the engine still would not lower or raise by hand. Then probably one of two things -

least likely is the trim spool has rusted out from sitting. For some odd reason water collects at the trim spool and causes rust.

most likely is that the tip of your manual release has broken off. If so then you need to take system completely apart and find the broken off tip. The put back together with new parts. or send it out (about $200)

when tightening the manual release it should be seated but not tightened. It seals like a piston with rings. Overtightening the manual release not improve the seal, it only cracks the tip.