140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

[BoatHoopty]

Just bought an older 70s boat with a 140hp OMC Sterndrive inboard. Before going to water the trim worked absolutely fine; up and down with ease. Get to the water, lower trim, start engine (have engine difficulty) so decide to throw boat on trailer, and trim won't go back up. Can hear motor engage but nothing. Cant get boat on trailer with the trim down, is there a way to manually pull it up so I can at least get my boat home?

 

[jpwilly]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

Sounds to me like you should check the fluid in the trim system. It's probably low and you have air in the rams. Fill it up with fluid and run your trim up and down 5 + times to purge out the air. Be sure it's full and put the screw back in.

 

[TriToon]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

Pull the snap ring off gear and remove gear.Or remove the 3 bolts that hold the half moon gear.Or some have a allen adjustment screw inside the little gear.Turn it counter clockwise to pull pressure off clutches and push the outdrive up.Good luck

 

[QC]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

There is no fluid in an older OMC Stringer "tilt" system . . . they are completely electric, not hydraulic

There are a couple of things you can try, if the motor "engage(s)" then you can try lifting as it bumps. That probably wont work.

The other trick is to remove the large gear quadrant that the tilt motor works on to raise the drive. You'll need two people. I believe it is three large screws (bolts), remove them and then slide the quadrant out. Lift the drive and reinstall the quadrant. CAREFUL, it will drop if your helper gives out!! The quadrant will hold the drive up for the trip home. No different than if it worked normally as the drive doesn't "know" that the motor didn't put it there.

Edit: Same idea as "half moon". Posting at the same time.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

btw, that's not power trim
if you were about to use that system to trim the drive underway, the best thing that happened is the boat didn't start

only run the engine with the drive all the way down

 

[BoatHoopty]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

TY for your prompt replies. The boat is still docked, I can't pull the motor onto tralier without scrapping the bottom of it. The three bolts are on the side of the gear casing, the only three bolts I see, can I do this while they are under water?

 

[superbenk]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

Yes, you can do it under water (don't lose the bolts).

When you dropped the drive (tilt down) did it slam down? If it slams, it often binds the gear and it won't come back up. Next time make sure you lower the drive with short taps of the switch just until you hear it slightly tap the boat when it's all the way down.

You can also try holding the switch up while a 2nd person jerks the drive up & down. The jerking motion can sometimes unbind it. Not sure how safe that is since the drive will come up quick

Also, make sure you have a good charge in your battery. If your battery is run down from trying to get it to start, the tilt motor won't have enough juice to do anything. Next time make sure the boat starts & runs in the driveway before going to the ramp (on muffs of course).

 

[southkogs]

Re: 140 HP OMC Sterndrive: While at dock, trim won't go up

Along with "don't loose those bolts" watch the quadrant (half moon gear) - when the drive moves that's probably going to want to fall too. Be bad to lose it or have it take out a toe!

+1 on the battery charge - that can be a real gotcha' with this system.