manual release tilt/trim '96 Johnson 115

[cerealdiet]

1996 Johnson OceanRunner 115. Wouldn't tilt up (though I could hear motor when I pushed "up" button). Thought fluid was low. Went to unscrew the manual release screw and doomed myself: It was frozen and I buggered up the head. Tried 2 easy outs, and broke both.
Now trying to delicately drill out the screw. Deep enough now that fluid is draining out. If enough drains, will I be able to tilt up the motor by hand? I thought that if I could get motor up, I could plug the manual release screw/hole with epoxy cement, refill reservoir and see if that solves tilt problem? Dumb idea?
I don't think there's any way to the fill hole except if motor is all the way up. Thanks for any advice.

 

[boobie]

Re: manual release tilt/trim '96 Johnson 115

Dumb idea! You may have other probs in the unit.

 

[cerealdiet]

Re: manual release tilt/trim '96 Johnson 115

Commander boobie, I agree; it's true that I may have other problems, but I need to be able to isolate systems to diagnose. The unit won't work without movement of pressurized fluid, right? So why not start with what seems to be the simplest: fill the unit with fluid and press the button. But ain't nothing gonna happen until I get the motor tilted up to give me access. So back to one of my questions: Will the motor tilt up if it is (nearly) empty of fluid and air is allowed to enter (or escape) around the manual release screw?

 

[boobie]

Re: manual release tilt/trim '96 Johnson 115

If you can get it to full tilt position then fill up the hole and also add fluid, then try it. Normally you have to cycle it up and down five times to get the air out topping the fluid off between cycles. In answer to your question, no it won't work with the hole in it.