Tilt too weak to lift all way up

[coderunner]

I have a 2002 Yamaha 60 hp four stroke. It has been sitting for some time. Tilt motor spins and will lift motor half way, but will not lift all the way up. I have used the release valve and raised the motor all the way up. The fluid level was full (and have verified it still is / refilled.). With the tilt ram disconnected from the motor, it will go all the way in and out. With the motor weight, it will not lift it.
I tried to cycle the tilt with the reservoir cap off. I heard what sound like bubbling noises in the reservoir with moving the ram. Not sure if that's to be expected. Refilled reservoir. Still no strength in lifting.

Where do I look next?. The tilt motor seems to be doing it's job (at first I thought it was not as loud as I recalled). Am I having a seal problem with the ram?

 

[rat boat]

Do you mean the trim tilt? Are you running it with the motor running or of a battery? First, check your electrical supply, if all is good chek the motor on the trim/lift pump. If you can, open the pump and check the compressor piston. Flush the pump with hydraulic cleaner and then refill. If you have or can get one, attach an aux hydraulic pump and check the system. If that doesn't or you don't do that, next check the piston/cylinder on the motor. Make sure it will extend to the wanted height. Sorry for the late reply and I don't know much about that motor or motors with hydraulic lifts so don't quote me.

 

[coderunner]

Yes, the trim / tilt is the issue. I have been testing with the 60 hp motor not running. The battery was charged overnight and appears to have full charge. I do not know if a trim / tilt motor going bad could cause this issue. It certainly is turning and moves / will tilt the engine half way up, but not all the way. I first assumed it was low on fluid, but that is not the case. I have no way of testing with an aux hydraulic pump.

 

[robert graham]

A weak battery could be your problem....try the starter to see if it spins the motor in a strong way....if not, then may be time for a new battery......I just went through this Same thing with my battery 2 weeks ago....overnight charge indicated full charge...then til/trim is weak, as well as the starter....replaced 4 year old battery...no more problem!

 

[coderunner]

Battery spins starter well and motor will crank without problem making me think weak battery is probably not the issue. I don't know if a dying trim motor would do this.

 

[robert graham]

Check connections back at tilt/trim relay....

 

[jimmbo]

You say you had to top up the Reservoir after trying it, and you said you heard bubbling noises. Try cycling it up and down a few more times and recheck the level, and top up if needed, you might just have air in the system that needs to be purged

 

[QBhoy]

Is it maybe that it’s just going to it’s maximum trim limit and not into full trailer tilt ? If so it could be just the switch

 

[crazy charlie]

Purge and top off resevoir at least 2-5 more times .The air will be replaced by fluid if you do it correctly

 

[coderunner]

I have cycled the engine up and down several times and tried to top off the reservoir when up. It hasn't needed any fluid as far as I could tell. Fluid just immediately pours out. In order to get engine all the way up, I have to assist lifting with picking up on the motor. It feels like I'm not lifting the full weight of the engine. Despite trying this several times, nothing changes.

I tried going from an engine up position and letting the engine down with the tilt release screw. As it got towards the bottom I did hear air gurgle through. After tightening the screw and running the tilt back up, no change. It will still move through the trim range, but will not tilt the motor up. It seems like when it gets to the area where it would move quickly to tilt up, there is just no lifting power. Refilling the reservoir after hearing air was the same (no room for more fluid).

I tried lowering it with the release screw and then lifting the engine manually (a little painful on the back). Once to the fully up position, there was no room for more fluid in the reservoir and nothing changed with how it didn't lift.


This is a 60hp with just one cylinder / ram (it doesn't have the two smaller ones for trim). I have also just replaced the trim motor. The new one sounds better than the original, but nothing changed.

Please offer suggestions. More than frustrated. I have ordered the Clymer manual but it's a few days away.

 

[Yahman]

It sounds like you still have air in the system. You might find this video helpful. (Skip to middle of clip).

https://youtu.be/9nptI3iuqkw

Also, if your boat is on a trailer I have found it helpful to lower the trailer nose wheel as far as it will go to get the lift ram as vertical as possible.