tilt/trim motor not running

[markett]

Occasionally the tilt/trim motor would not work on my Johnson 115 hp 1998 ficht. This was usually after use and cleaning. It would work after after a couple of days of "drying out". I recently took it into the shop for another reason and when I got it home the motor trimmed down but then the motor quit working in any direction and hasn't worked since. I do hear clicking in the solenoids when pressing both the buttons on the motor and on the accelerator but still nothing. I checked fluid level and seems fine. Problem seems electrical but all connections appear clean and I can't find any other in line fuses that could cause the issue. I have the motor all the way up after manually releasing to access the trim motor.
Can anyone provide any troubleshooting suggestions as to how I can resolve my problem. I am new at this so laymans terms are greatly appreciated.

 

[ezeke]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

edit

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

If the solenoids are clicking , that means theyre working, so rules that out. Follow ezekes advice, if still stuck there will be inline fuses at the solenoids that are probably blown.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

Or....the electric motor could be the culprit. I replaced mine in a 97 J-115 just last year. You should have two wires coming from the trim motor. Put 12 volts to the green and it should run the trim down, vice versa for the blue wire. If it doesn't run, the trim motor should be pulled and looked at. Not too hard of a job. You do have a manual...right?

Good luck
Dave

 

[markett]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

I appreciate your quick responses. I have seen something that resembles your description of the tilt limit switch in the front of the motor under the cowling with a plunger like switch on it that is self contained with two wires that are permanently attached. This appears, after tracing the wires to have been disconnected since the inception of me purchasing the boat. Although the relays and solenoids look good, I will attempt to clean and see if that works. I will also attach a 12 volt wire to the tilt motor. Can anyone give insight as to why it would stop working after use and start again after sitting awhile? would something possibly get wet and dry out to create this phenomenon? I have a manual ordered and on the way!

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

Do me a favour, next time it happens, cool it off someway, either cold hose water or ice pack and see if that helps. I have a feeling the "drying out" period you speak of is actually a "cooling off" period.

 

[markett]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

Sorry in advance for dragging this out...
It has been almost a week that the trim has not worked. Could the battery be an issue not providing enough juice? engine starts and runs well. or could the relays need replacing. Would checking this just require replacing or can I avoid this by trouble shooting once determined that it is not the actual tnt motor causing the problems.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

If you have a voltmeter, check that you're getting voltage to the motor. If, when you engage the trim switch, you're getting 12 volts or slightly more to the motor from a fully charged battery, it kinda narrows down the search.
I'm by no means one of the experts here. It's just how I troubleshot my problem.
Hope it helps!

Dave

 

[markett]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

I have checked that there is power to the trim motor (unit on the port side just below the trim tube in the front of the motor with a green and a blue wire going in to it.) It appears to me the motor itself is creating the problem. This particular motor has 4 bolts holding it in. What can I expect when I remove the motor to replace??

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

If the electric motor is a two wire motor, it is a dual polarity motor, meaning that having the positive battery cable applied to one wire and the negative battery cable applied to the other wire would cause the motor to run in one direction AND reversing those battery connections would cause the motor to run in the opposite direction.

Trace the wires from that electric motor back to its connector and disconnect them.

Using small jumper cables from the battery, hook those jumpers directly to those two electric motor wires. If it runs (either direction, it doesn't matter), the electric motor is okay. If it does not, the electric motor is faulty.

 

[markett]

Re: tilt/trim motor not running

Thanks Joe.
OK...I have determined that I am getting power to the motor...possibly not enough as I only have a light voltage meter. I hooked wires directly from the battery to the motor and the motor ran so that eliminates that. What else could prevent the trim not to work? Would low hydraulic fluid levels prevent the motor not to turn at all?
Any suggestions would be very appreciated as I am at the end of my rope on this!