Power trim problems 84 johnson

[jprobb]

Hi all, I use my boat a few weeks a season and this is one of them. Put the boat in the water and used it for two days and when I went to lift the engine with the power tilt I could hear it but nothing was happening. 1984 Johnson 75hp.
At shore I used the pressure relief valve, raised the motor by hand, and tried manipulating the switch. The trim posts came out but after releasing the motor it still won't go up or down and trim stuck at max.
Today I tried again and checked the reservoir as I know it had been leaking a little last year but worked fine otherwise.
I put a few pumps of dexron in before it was coming out so put plug back in and tried cycling the trim/tilt multiple time, however nothing was changing. Checked fluid again and same height.
My dilemma is this....does this sound like a tilt/trim failure and can I circumvent it so that I can raise or lower the motor with trim being proper or am I now stuck?
Other suggestions? I can still use it trimmed up,but am stick going much slower and likely blowing through mire fuel....
Thanks in advance.
Jay

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Did you replace the fluid?

Google how to cycle air out of the pump otherwise it's probably shot.

 

[jprobb]

I attempted to cycle it but other than hearing the motor for the lift running, nothing was moving.
I would think that even with a failed unit, the trim could be bypassed.

 

[jprobb]

If I recall, after replacing seals once previously, the trim rods should compress easily if no pressure exists.. I.e if I drain all the fluid. I would have also thought that the pressure relief valve would allowed this too.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Tilt goes up and down by opening the bleed screw, trim does not or needs lots of weight.

Go online and search how to bleed the air out.

 

[jprobb]

Yes, tried this and got nowhere with it as I know how to bleed them.
May just remove the lines to the rams to see if they will drop after this.
I am in a semi remote area so cell and internet service weak. If I can get the trim to drop I can use the motor properly and then rip things apart once I get home in under 2 weeks.

 

[jprobb]

Now that I am home I will remove the motor assembly as although the motor runs in forward and reverse, no pressure is being built up.
There was no air or water in the system either, as I did drain the oil and even removed the trim rams to see if there was anything damaged.
I will keep you posted as to what I find.