Stringer tilt probelm

[Colin Ambler]

My tilt has failed. Mid trip, i pulled the outdrive up because of some low water. I floated away to deeper water and tried to put the outdrive back down with no luck...I had to get towed in. The switch seemed to be failing in the past week or two, it would take a decent amount of flickering the switch for the outdrive to go down. I replaced the switch, and everything seemed to be working better. (Not the case later in the day) When i flick the switch now, the drive stays up, but i can hear something clicking towards the rear of hte engine. The trim switch on the throttle still works. Any ideas of my problem? <br /><br />Also, what are the results of starting the engine with the trim up?

 

[tommays]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Your going to have to give more info there are many different types of trim systems <br /><br />year/model/ect<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Colin Ambler]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Sorry. I'm pretty sure the boat is a 77', the engine is a chevy 350, OMC outdrive. I'm not sure the model number. It's white, and works on a half moon type gear. Haha, i hope that helps so you can help me!

 

[tommays]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

I would edit the title on the first post to "Stringer trim problem" the guys that know that system will find this post and get you going<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Make that 'stringer tilt problem' tommays. Don't add confusion to the trim vs tilt OMC issue.<br /><br />CA, disconnect the power lead to the tilt motor and check it with a voltmeter when you activate the switch. One lead to ground is up the other lead to ground is down. If you get a positive reading you have a bad tilt motor. If not you have, at least, a bad solenoid for the down side.

 

[pvisser]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Also, what are the results of starting the engine with the trim up?

Bad. very Bad... When the TILT is up the impellor is not engaged, and therefore no water will get to your engine. I beleive your trim raises and lowers your engine, the tilt pivots the outdrive. You will notice with the outdrive up there is a nuckle type of gear in the gap between the outdrive and the transom, this nuckle must be in full contact with it's mate for the prop, and water pump shafts to work.<br /><br />Also never run this setup with that outdrive slightly tilted. You WILL strip that gear, and create a much worse problem..

 

[fendersfender]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

uhhhh no!!!! even with drive all the way up, the ball gears will still engage, although, only partially....you will still be turning everything in outdrive, including impeller....it is not recommended to run engine with outdrive tilted up as it wears ball gears rapidly, if it's a must---never go above 1000 rpm....as for your tilt problem...i agree thats its a solenoid or bad tilt motor....although this tilt system is not the best....i have new tilt motors on mine (twins) and sometimes i must still play with switch to get them to raise, usually down is no problem...my advice is to get a manual and troubleshoot the system.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

I agree with scott the drive shaft will turn even tilted all the way up. Low RPMS only and do not raise any higher than required. My 1980 I ran with unit raised many times when cumming in to one ramp I use a lot at low tide. Also every time I back into a beach so someone can steep off with a shore line. Ball gears still very good. Do not rise so high that the water pump input holes are out of the water or outdrive impeller will run dry.<br /><br />Scott I had trouble raising my outdrive also about 10 years ago but would always go down. When tried to raise some times would not move or would move 3 inches. The problem turned out to be the two shaft the outdrive rotates on had old grease that was more like glue. I always greased twice a year. Problem is grease does not really go all the way around the pins. I took off the two caps and pulled the outdrive a few inches away from the intermediate houseing then cleaned all the old grease out with WD40. Wiped dry and regreased with finger and OMC Triple guard grease. Outdirve since will fully rise in a count of 3 and will fully lower with a 1/4 second pulse on the down switch. I still grease twice a year with the grease gun.

 

[pvisser]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

uhhhh no!!!! even with drive all the way up, the ball gears will still engage, although, only partially....

I agree with scott the drive shaft will turn even tilted all the way up.

OK, Now ya'll got me confused. I was lead to believe (Got info from a question a had a few years ago on this forum) that ANY tilting of the outdrive caused wear, and that full tilt caused a big enough gap that the gears didn't meet at all.<br /><br />Or is this just for my year of boat? I have a 1983 3.8l V6 OMC Stringer (800 Series I believe)<br /><br />Clear my head for me.... There have been many occasions in the past few years that I would have love to have tilted the outdrive a little in shallow waters, but did not, for fear of screwing things up..

 

[Colin Ambler]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Alright guys, thanks for your help thus far. I've done work with cars before, but i'm still a newbie in the boating world. Three questions:<br /><br />1) Where is the tilt motor? I've tried tracing the wires, but they're difficult to follow. <br /><br />2)I've been trying to find a repair manual in a computer format so I don't have to wait for shipping. (Couldn't find one locally) Anywhere you know on the web?<br /><br />3) I knew it wasn't good to tilt the drive up/down with the engine on but i think i may have done it once or twice briefly. How can i check for any damage.<br /><br />By the way, the boat is in the water...it seems like this might make some things more difficult.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Pvisser, it is ok to run the outdrive a few degrees up, at low rpm, for purposes of getting out of shallow water. I've done so periodically on my 31 y/o set of ball gears, with minimal wear showing. I've even accidentallly fire up the motor with the leg all the way up a few times. It makes a horrible noise, puts tons of side load on the shafts and bearings and would put a serious hurt on all the compenents in a hurry.<br /><br />Colin, the tilt motor is on the port side, just inboard from the tilt gear box. If yours is a '77, it has a two wire lead with a 6-8" pigtail, terminating in a nylon connector that connects up to the loom from the solenoids. Under most circumstances it can be a bear to get to down along side the base of the engine. (behind the left rear motor mount)

 

[pvisser]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

OK, so your saying we can "TILT" the outdrive at idle (1000 rpm) to move out of shallow waters without causing damage... Then when in deeper waters, put in neutral and drop her again, or can it be done while in gear? Same goes for raising it, that is can I raise it while in gear?<br /><br />Is there an online resource or manual I can look at for this setup?

 

[Colin Ambler]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

In the back of my mind i fear whether the probelm could be something else. Could the wearing or those ball gears or having the engine on when the drive is up have any affect on the tilt not working? However, I've never heard any grinding or abnormal noises. I'm not sure as to the wear of the ball gears, they could have been in bad shape from the previous owner. <br /><br />From the symptoms i have described, is it your guess that it is due to something directly related to the tilt? I'm going to keep troubleshooting, but I have the feeling i will need to pull it out of the water and bring it to a local wrench.

 

[pvisser]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

From all you've said I think it has something to do with the electrical side of your tilt. If the electrics were working you'd probably have some sort of noise, or at least see a good voltage drop on your gauge. Again just my opinion. If you can get your hands on a Seloc Manual for your drive. I would start with the solonoids, check your wiring, etc...

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Originally posted by pvisser:<br /> OK, so your saying we can "TILT" the outdrive at idle (1000 rpm) to move out of shallow waters without causing damage... Then when in deeper waters, put in neutral and drop her again, or can it be done while in gear? Same goes for raising it, that is can I raise it while in gear?<br /><br />Is there an online resource or manual I can look at for this setup?

You can raise it and lower it in gear with the engine running. I do not know where an actual limit, in degrees, would be stated but I would not raise it, with engine on period, more than 30 deg up from vertical. You can check that out with a protractor and a ruler. It would give you enough clearance to keep the prop off the bottom.<br /><br />...and the state of the ball gears would have nothing to do with the inoperative tilt. That is a pure electrical issue, motor, switch or solenoids.

 

[pvisser]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

K.<br /><br />Thanks. I wasn't thinking of raisin it more than a few degrees.<br /><br />Also thanks Colin, for allowing me to post in your post!

 

[Boatist]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Colin<br />The problem can be electrical or mechanical. If it not working at all then start by checking the two 50 amp fuses on the starboard side near the starter.<br /><br />My unit never had a electrical problem but has had two mechaniacl problems. First one was got water in the tilt clutch (port side of your 1/4 round gear). This was due to two bad seals. Replaced the two seals behind the small gear that turns the big gear. Removed the entire clutch pack and cleaned the whole thing up. Also replaced the oring around the cover for the clutch and the seal on the drain and oil lever plugs. The clutch pack is should be filled with motor oil.<br /><br />Many have had electrical problems. Most I have talk to seem to be caused by water leak into the clutch pack then it goes up the worm gear shaft into the tilt motor. The tilt motor is inside the boat on the port side about the level of the motor oil pan and back against the transom. On many boats it is below water level out side so if have a clutch water leak it can flow into the electric tilt motor. There are also two solenoids that run the motor and they will click when you try to raise or lover the dirve. You will get a click even if the fuse that powers the motor is blown because the solenoids pick circuit is powered by the other 50 amp Fuse. Power to go thru the solenoid contact to the moror is from the other fuse.<br /><br />I think you will find hard to troubleshoot in the water. If it is electrial and not water in the motor issue then you can trouble shoot from inside the boat. Pretty easy if you have the OMC manual.<br /><br />As I said the two problems I had were both mechanical and outside in the water. The clutch pack and the pivot pins for the outdrive.<br /><br />Good Luck

 

[Colin Ambler]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

Thanks for all your help guys! The manual is on it's way. I probably won't get to do any more troubleshooting until the weekend, but now i feel confident I can determine the problem thanks to all your input.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

From my experience and reading of other's here... you most likely will find a bad/corroded electrical connection either on the ground or the solenoids. I'm not saying you don't have a defective solenoid or motor, bad connections are guilty more often than not.<br /><br />Also check your tilt gear box and make sure you have oil in it.

 

[cwlish]

Re: Stringer tilt probelm

So how does one go about getting the motor out. Do ihave to pull the clutch pack and gear out or can you get the motor from the inside without doing anything on the out side? thanks