1978 Johnson 85 hp (85etlr78c). Was out on the water when my tilt trim started acting up. I was raising and lowering the tilt trim a bunch of times and then it basically stopped lifting the engine. Sat in storage for 4 months. Just started working on it again and it looks like a trim cap seal was broken so a bunch of oil leaked out and water got in. I just replaced the cap with a new seal - no more leaking. Topped up hydraulic fluid and bled it, then topped up more.
So my problem: I push the tilt/trim button to raise or lower the motor and I hear the solenoid click as well as the tilt trim motor working (for both up and down). The engine will not lift up. I unscrew the manual release screw on the side, lift the engine, put down the support brackets and screw in the manual release screw. I try the tilt/trim button again and the trim rods will extend and retract but no movement of the tilt rod. I release the support brackets and the engine lowers (with me holding onto it) until it gets to the extended trim rods - they support the weight of the engine. I push the tilt/trim button up, but still no tilt movement (again sounds are coming from tilt/trim motor). I push the tilt/trim button down and the trim rods retract, lowering the engine fully. I try pushing tilt/trim button up again but trim rods won’t lift the engine. I manually lift the engine and the trim rods will extend again now that the engine isn’t on them. I make sure reservoir is filled (it is full, no more air is escaping when I slowly unscrew reservoir fill hole screw). I’ve tried this method a bunch of times and several other combinations to get it to lift the engine, but nothing works. I don’t see hydraulic fluid leaking from anywhere.
Any ideas why it’s not lifting my engine?
So my problem: I push the tilt/trim button to raise or lower the motor and I hear the solenoid click as well as the tilt trim motor working (for both up and down). The engine will not lift up. I unscrew the manual release screw on the side, lift the engine, put down the support brackets and screw in the manual release screw. I try the tilt/trim button again and the trim rods will extend and retract but no movement of the tilt rod. I release the support brackets and the engine lowers (with me holding onto it) until it gets to the extended trim rods - they support the weight of the engine. I push the tilt/trim button up, but still no tilt movement (again sounds are coming from tilt/trim motor). I push the tilt/trim button down and the trim rods retract, lowering the engine fully. I try pushing tilt/trim button up again but trim rods won’t lift the engine. I manually lift the engine and the trim rods will extend again now that the engine isn’t on them. I make sure reservoir is filled (it is full, no more air is escaping when I slowly unscrew reservoir fill hole screw). I’ve tried this method a bunch of times and several other combinations to get it to lift the engine, but nothing works. I don’t see hydraulic fluid leaking from anywhere.
Any ideas why it’s not lifting my engine?
