Evinrude Tilt Trim motor

[evinrude2323]

Hi All,

I recently purchased a 16ft StarCraft with a 70HP evinrude 2 stroke form 1978. Boat is awesome and motor is now running well. I found a tilt and trim unit on OfferUp and purchased a replacement motor for it on Amazon. I hooked it up today and added fresh atf. Battery tested it and the motor runs, but I can’t get the rams or main piston to move at all. I don’t know anything about working on these but I thought I would give it a shot. I have a manual and have been reading about them and it sounds like there are a few things that could be wrong. It may be a very simple fix but anyone know where I should start?

 

[racerone]

Is the drive coupling in place ?-----Does your system use a 2 wire ( green and blue ) or 3 wire ( green , blue and black ) on the motor ?----Is manual release valve tight ?

 

[evinrude2323]

Not sure what the drive coupling looks like. It’s a 2 wire. And yes the valve is tight.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Did you purge the air?

 

[evinrude2323]

Did you purge the air?

I did. I just realized the drive coupling is missing. Never worked on these so thank you racerone. I will get a replacement ordered and check back. If anyone has ever done a reseal on one of these let me know where you sourced parts or a kit from.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

https://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-accessories/index.php?year=1978&model=Power+Tilt%2FTrim+1978&section=Power+Tilt+And+Trim+70+-+140+Hp+Models&yid=34192&mid=34197&sid=36352

 

[ct1762@gmail.com]

I did. I just realized the drive coupling is missing. Never worked on these so thank you racerone. I will get a replacement ordered and check back. If anyone has ever done a reseal on one of these let me know where you sourced parts or a kit from.

it didn't drop down into the unit did it? when replacing it, and the motor's out assuming its a cheap chinese motor i back out the 2 screws and stuff some sealant under them, and get a small paint brush and seal up the o rings. you will find them bone dry... water gets in easily. hence why some guys get 2 seasons out of these and others about 2 days... no quality control. the o rings don't have a machined lip to fit into like the sierra ones either, prompting the top 2 screws to be basically finger tight and dry!

 

[evinrude2323]

it didn't drop down into the unit did it? when replacing it, and the motor's out assuming its a cheap chinese motor i back out the 2 screws and stuff some sealant under them, and get a small paint brush and seal up the o rings. you will find them bone dry... water gets in easily. hence why some guys get 2 seasons out of these and others about 2 days... no quality control. the o rings don't have a machined lip to fit into like the sierra ones either, prompting the top 2 screws to be basically finger tight and dry!

I got the replacement drive coupler and did a test. It moves the tilt cylinder but the 2 smaller ones don’t want to move. Are there 2 drive couplers or just one? I see two spots for them and I received two in the order off eBay but again I don’t know what I’m really looking at. Maybe just not enough fluid in the unit. I’ll make sure to use some gasket maker when I finalize the connections. Already had some leakage on the reservoir side as I broke the head off one of the 3 screws holding it on. Gonna have to drill those out and replace.

 

[racerone]

After the tilt cylinder goes to maximum extension , the trim cylinders may start to move.----Sounds like you need to contact the seller on this trim / tilt unit.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Smaller ones are the"trim" they only work when the motor is down. Are those rams inside right now or extended? They move really slow at the end of the motor down position.

 

[evinrude2323]

Smaller ones are the"trim" they only work when the motor is down. Are those rams inside right now or extended? They move really slow at the end of the motor down position.

They’re out currently. The unit is not currently on the boat. So the large tilt works but the trim rams are stuck in the extended position. It’s like the two smaller ones are seized in position. I’ve tried to remove the cap but it’s stuck and my spanner wrench wants to slip out before I can twist it.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I think they need the weight of the motor and they don't suck in until the main ram is all the way in.

So not being on the outboard not sure if that's a real test.

Let's let others verify.

 

[racerone]

The tilt cylinder might need to retract all the way BEFORE trim cylinders move. !

 

[evinrude2323]

They’re out currently. The unit is not currently on the boat. So the large tilt works but the trim rams are stuck in the extended position.

The tilt cylinder might need to retract all the way BEFORE trim cylinders move. !

Does it need an engine on it to engage the trim rams?

 

[evinrude2323]

Should I turn the release valve and try to push them in manually to free them up? And just to confirm- the oil pump only gets a drive coupler in one of the two holes not in both of them?

 

[racerone]

There is only ONE DRIVE COUPLER.-----Perhaps one of the check valves is stuck.-----And no it does NOT need to be installed on a motor to see tilt and trim rams moving to their limits

 

[evinrude2323]

There is only ONE DRIVE COUPLER.-----Perhaps one of the check valves is stuck.-----And no it does NOT need to be installed on a motor to see tilt and trim rams moving to their limits

Copy that is it the screws on the back? And in that case I have an extra drive coupler if anyone’s looking for one

 

[racerone]

No thanks ---I have lots of good drive couplings laying around.----Perhaps get your money back from seller?

 

[evinrude2323]

Anyone with suggestions on what I should try next, let me know or send me a message!