Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

[SotRH]

1986 21' Kayot Deck Boat
350 Mercruiser Sterndrive
260HP
Alpha One Outdrive

I was running the outdrive back down after trailering back home from a day of tubing (I was told, by the previous owner that it is bad for it to sit in the up position. Is this true?). It ran about 1/4 of the way down then stopped. I checked battery connections first, then charge level in both batteries... all was good. Not knowing what else to do, I called the previous owner, who told me that it had done that once to him... he claimed that he "gave the trim motor a good 'whack' and it went back to working and hasn't acted up again." ... good technical advise, I know. Well, I took my wooden 4x4 that I use as a wheel chock and tapped around on it... nothing. So then, like I had been advised, I gave a pretty good "whack" and it worked. It worked good for a while, then stuck again. Another "whack" and we were back in business... and so on. Now it is sticking more and more frequently.

What is my next step? Replacement of the pump? Is there something else I need to be checking? .... I've never fooled with on of these.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

I was told, by the previous owner that it is bad for it to sit in the up position. Is this true?

it is better to leave the drive down. when up, the bellows are stretched out and take a set that way. when down. the bellows are collapsed and relaxed. if yer in winter weather. up also leaves the prop hub exposed to take on snow, which later turns to water usually, then refreezes and possible crack.

What is my next step? Replacement of the pump?

i'd do a little trouble shooting first. quite a few parts to the hydaulic system. switches, mechanical moving parts (trim rams). electrical connections, etc. imho, electrical connocetions would be a good first place to start. take any connections apart and clean the terminals. they can tarnish over time and not conduct as well as they should.
here's a link to the service manual. you want #6. theres a trouble shooting guide in it + all the whys, hows and wherefores as to how your trim system works and tests that can be performed on it.

 

[SotRH]

Re: Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

here's a link to the service manual. you want #6. theres a trouble shooting guide in it + all the whys, hows and wherefores as to how your trim system works and tests that can be performed on it.

I plan to pull all electrical, clean, and re-connect tonight when I get home from work. I'll report back on how that turns out.

As far as the manual: I click on the link you gave me, choose #6, and all I'm getting is a 7 page .pdf file that appears to be the introduction and table of contents to the correct manual, nothing more. Am I doing it wrong?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

I plan to pull all electrical, clean, and re-connect tonight when I get home from work. I'll report back on how that turns out.

As far as the manual: I click on the link you gave me, choose #6, and all I'm getting is a 7 page .pdf file that appears to be the introduction and table of contents to the correct manual, nothing more. Am I doing it wrong?

Ayuh,... Look harder,... The links are hidden in the table of contents...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

 

[SotRH]

Re: Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

Ayuh,... Look harder,... The links are hidden in the table of contents...

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

I failed to mouse over the items in the table of contents the first time. Got it, now.

Thanks!

 

[SotRH]

Re: Need Help w/Trim Pump Issue

Okay...It took a little longer than I'd hoped to get back to work on the boat... danged ole work!

I took off every single wire on the trim pump, wire brushed the connections back to shiny metal, reconnected, and.... nothing. I then disconnected the plug from the switch and used an ohm meter to verify that the switch was working properly... it was. I then jumped from the positive side of the battery to the switch's input to each solenoid... nothing from either. I then jumped accross the main terminals of each solenoid, and the pump worked (both ways). I replaced both solenoids and now I'm back in business!

Is it odd for both solenoids to go out at the same time?