Should it be this hard to tilt my 115 manually?

My 96 merc 115 won't tilt/trim up. I release the manual release valve and it loosens up noticably but I still can't raise it by hand even with a friend helping. We can move it a few inches but not enough to matter. I would try winching it with something if i could but i can't move it from where its parked now without raising the motor.

Is it really that heavy or is something else possibly binding it up?

Am I correct in thinking I can't check fluid levels or add fluid without the motor being up?

Thanks for any insights here.

Re: Should it be this hard to tilt my 115 manually?

If the release valve is operating properly, you should be able to just lift it up and set it on the stop. It's not exactly light, but any man not totally wiped out physically should be able to do it.

The tilt tube might need grease.

What are the symptoms. Motor run or not? Sound like it's binding, or loose?

John

Re: Should it be this hard to tilt my 115 manually?

Well i can hear the pump run and it sounds almost normal, normal on the trim down a little higher pitch sound on the trim up, like its pushing against something that won't move or its just spinning freely...

When the manual release is open i can move it a few inches pretty easy then its stops or gets really heavy or something.

When the manual release is closed the trim motor doesn't even budge the engine to where i can easily move it manually... Kind of makes me think its out of hydraulic fluid, becuase i would think it would move at least as far as i can move manually before binding. I will try and grease the tilt tube. Where is the zirc for that? i must be looking right past it.