tilt/trim fluid

Hi there, we are completely new to boating. We have bought a boat and it has been stood for approximately 5 months in our drive while hubby does it up. Yesterday he tilted up the engine which is automatically done with a switch, when he tried to lower it it was stuck solid. I googled the problem and found the manual release switch so all was good. As it is going up and down it judders like crazy and we would expect it to be a smooth motion. I googled again and think it is probably air in the system so we should keep letting it go up and down as it self bleeds. Hubby though in his none wisdom thinks that it needs fluid in the system. Wifey me googled where it is put. Hubby has gone out to store and come home with two different bottles to put in it. I think it is neither of these which is were you come in lol. To put in the hydraulic system he thinks it is either Castrol Brake fluid response Dot 4 or the other bottle is Hydraulic jack oil. I think it is neither of these. We have a johnson 90 HP outboard motor V4. We are unsure of its age, probably about 20 years old. Any help will be gratefully appreciated.

Re: tilt/trim fluid

Neither.

You can buy Power Trim/Tilt fluid at Wal Mart or Use Dexron Automatic Transmission Fluid.

The Fluid comes in a container (tube) that makes it easier to put in.

Nice job on the Googling!!!

Re: tilt/trim fluid

Thank you for your help honey Now as we dont know what stuff is in there already do we first of all bleed all the stuff out that is in there and start afresh or just top up. If we need to bleed do you know where the bleeding cap is lol

Re: tilt/trim fluid

Nope, just top it off. With ENGINE UP AND TRAILERING BRACKET DEPLOYED.

The system is self bleeding. Just run it up/down a few times. Just a few times at a time. No sense overheating the tilt/trim motor.

Re: tilt/trim fluid

Thank you DJ you are a proper good chappie. We have filled up the fluid, I think it was probably almost dry. It is now moving up and down a hell of a lot quicker but it is still as noisy as heck. A loud i would call it a popping noise all the way up and all the way down. We have upped and downed it about 10 times now and no better. Took off the filling nut and air came out and retopped up till it spilled out. Do you think it is just a matter of time for everything to relube ormabe its notself bleeding.. Is there a hole or something where the air should come out of that i can check is clear lol or what :redface: Lol just reread the last sentence, its quite amusing lol

Re: tilt/trim fluid

Keep doing what you are doing. The "popping" is normal as it bleeds off the air.

There is no bleed port.

Fill it up one more time and let it sit for the night. The fluid may be a bit areated.

It will eventually work itself clean.