Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

[rehee]

Hello, I'm new to this site and boating, and have what might seam to be a stupid question.
I have a Mercury Thunderbolt 50hp outboard serial number starting with 32 so I believe it's around a 74 - 76.
I would like to install a power trim and tilt on this outboard but not sure if it was an option.
I have looked around and see lots of Mercury units, but don't know what will work.
I have also seen aftermarket units which require linkage modifications.
It's just my wife and myself boating, and she has a tough time pulling up the outboard into it's locking position while I winch the boat up.
Any help would be great!
Thank You
And Thank You For A Great Site!!!

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

You will need a two cylinder unit with an external pump. I believe they are called a type 1 trim /tilt (not positive tho) They fit in the same location as the currently installed Lift assist cylinders. Some are 4 hose, some are 2 hose. My guess is a 4 hose unit would work for you. They are not available new any longer. A good used one can cost up to $500. Check around, they're out there.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Pretty sure it can be done with the 50hp. I did it last summer with my 1971 Merc 800. Pretty easy to do and a nice feature to have. You will have to shop around for a good used unit, as they are no longer made.

The style/type that will fit your motor is the "type 1". It consists of two hydraulic cylinders mounted in-place of the existing shocks, two mounting brackets for the cylinders, a pump/reservoir that mounts IN the boat, 4 hydraulic lines and a three button control panel.

 

[rehee]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Thank you men,
This helps me trying to find one, your descriptions of my mount are to the tee!
I'll start looking....

 

[Smig]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

I put one on my '76 500. I actually found an old kit that had been sitting around and never installed, but it's the only one I have seen. If you do get a used one from a larger motor (850, 115...), just be aware that some of the mounting hardware that attached the rams to the motor mount may be slightly different.

I have posted a copy of the installation manual that came with the kit - it can be found here. It details the hardware differences for the smaller (500 & 650) motors:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Smig06/PTTManuals#

Shaun

 

[rehee]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Shaun,
Thanks for the manual!!!
Very helpful, I hope I can find one of these.....
Eric

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Smig, you didn't win that PTT unit in an ebay auction did you? I saw one listed last year listed on ebay but I didn't win the auction

 

[monk-monk]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Hey rehee, i buy and sell components on ebay for these power trim systems, i know these systems very well! I have most of the parts that you are looking for, everything from the 3-button helm control panel, the wiring harness from the control panel to the pump electrical connection, i have a good used pump (i use a set of genuine Mercury test gauges to verify proper up and down psi's and also test for leak down), at this time i only have 2 of the hydraulic lines (you need 4 total) and i have a set of rams, but one of them is leaking so i would need to repair that ram, and i have the mounting brackets for the rams and it has a new trim limit switch installed in the starboard bracket. My ebay id is fuller4099 or you can send me an email to challectric@gmail.com

 

[rehee]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Thank you all for your help, I know much more than I did last week.
What a fantastic site........

 

[Smig]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Smig, you didn't win that PTT unit in an ebay auction did you? I saw one listed last year listed on ebay but I didn't win the auction

No, that wasn't me. I did get mine on ebay, but it was 4 years ago - actually I lost it the first time but the buyer no-showed, so the seller relisted it and I won it the second time around. Not only that, but I also needed the adapter kit to fit the 500 - turns out a listing for one had just ended without a bidder so I emailed the seller and bought it from him! That's the best ebay luck I have every had and probably ever will...

 

[marvin the minnow]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

I put one on my '76 500. I actually found an old kit that had been sitting around and never installed, but it's the only one I have seen. If you do get a used one from a larger motor (850, 115...), just be aware that some of the mounting hardware that attached the rams to the motor mount may be slightly different.

I have posted a copy of the installation manual that came with the kit - it can be found here. It details the hardware differences for the smaller (500 & 650) motors:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Smig06/PTTManuals#

Shaun

Smig-

is there anyway you couldemail me a copy of this manual? marvintheminnow@gmail.com

thank you in advance.

 

[Smig]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Unfortunately, I lost the pdf in a computer move, but you should be able to download the individual pages from Picassa.

Smig-

is there anyway you couldemail me a copy of this manual? marvintheminnow@gmail.com

thank you in advance.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

Follow the link to the site that SMIG posted originally then from your windows bar at the top of the page select FILE SAVE AS and select WEB PAGE COMPLETE.

The entire document will be saved on your computer as a copy of web page.

 

[Kissdude]

Re: Installing A Power Trim Tilt Unit On A Mercury Outboard

I put one on my '76 500. I actually found an old kit that had been sitting around and never installed, but it's the only one I have seen. If you do get a used one from a larger motor (850, 115...), just be aware that some of the mounting hardware that attached the rams to the motor mount may be slightly different.

I have posted a copy of the installation manual that came with the kit - it can be found here. It details the hardware differences for the smaller (500 & 650) motors:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Smig06/PTTManuals#

Shaun

How can I view these instructions as when I go there it says it doesn’t exist? I am new here btw

 

[Kissdude]

How can I view these instructions as when I go there it says it doesn’t exist? I am new here btw

Sounds like exactly what I’m looking for and thanks in advance!

 

[Chris1956]

What year and HP motor are you working on? Different motors had different PTT units. There were also some aftermarket universal ones.