Looking for suggestions. I have a 1980 115 Evinrude outboard. Was on the river a couple of weeks ago, and the motor would not lower back down (had it out of water as to not get tangled in fishing lines). After quite a while, it did finally lower and we kept it down until the dock. Put in some tilt trim fluid and it worked fine the next time out.
Went out a couple days ago, got to the dock and put the motor up to pull it out of the water. When to lower it on to the brackets for trailering, and nothing (again). I figured it needed fluid again, so I trailed it 15 miles home with the motor completely up.
After trying everything I can think of, the motor will still not lower. I have topped off the fluid, I have used the punch and hammer on the release valve on the left side, and manually raised and lowered the engine to release pressure, topped off fluid again and nothing, repeat etc. When the motor is down (manually) and I put fluid in, it will raise with no problem to the top but will not come back down. The pistons are completely out and do not move at all when raising or trying to lower. I have sprayed them with cleaner and lube thinking there is a small chance they might be stuck, but unlikely. When pressing down on the switch (switch is new this summer), you can hear the motor engage and it sounds fine, just no movement. I even went and bought a pump to make sure I was topping the fluid off. The only thing I am unsure off is how to correctly bleed the air out? Do you leave the screw off on the right side and hit the switch (it just bubbles out then non-stop).
I have gone through 8 bottles of fluid, more than 8 curse words, and the nearest mechanic is 115 miles away. Does possibly banging on the pistion with a 2 x 4 and hammer when somebody presses the down switch have any merit? Which one first, the left or the right? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
Went out a couple days ago, got to the dock and put the motor up to pull it out of the water. When to lower it on to the brackets for trailering, and nothing (again). I figured it needed fluid again, so I trailed it 15 miles home with the motor completely up.
After trying everything I can think of, the motor will still not lower. I have topped off the fluid, I have used the punch and hammer on the release valve on the left side, and manually raised and lowered the engine to release pressure, topped off fluid again and nothing, repeat etc. When the motor is down (manually) and I put fluid in, it will raise with no problem to the top but will not come back down. The pistons are completely out and do not move at all when raising or trying to lower. I have sprayed them with cleaner and lube thinking there is a small chance they might be stuck, but unlikely. When pressing down on the switch (switch is new this summer), you can hear the motor engage and it sounds fine, just no movement. I even went and bought a pump to make sure I was topping the fluid off. The only thing I am unsure off is how to correctly bleed the air out? Do you leave the screw off on the right side and hit the switch (it just bubbles out then non-stop).
I have gone through 8 bottles of fluid, more than 8 curse words, and the nearest mechanic is 115 miles away. Does possibly banging on the pistion with a 2 x 4 and hammer when somebody presses the down switch have any merit? Which one first, the left or the right? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.