Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

[mgmidget72]

Hi All,

For my 1999 Sea Ray 180 O/B (115 Merc), I need to get a new tilt/trim pump. I had the entire unit to my mechanic for paint, and something got clogged and blew the side off of the pump. I'm not really surprised because I had the motor apart to prep the motor housing and something could have fallen into the reservoir. Also, the p/o's mechanic doesn't seem all that good.

My mechanic told me a new one would be around $500. Does this sound reasonable? What other options do I have at this point?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

Hi All,

For my 1999 Sea Ray 180 O/B (115 Merc), I need to get a new tilt/trim pump. I had the entire unit to my mechanic for paint, and something got clogged and blew the side off of the pump. I'm not really surprised because I had the motor apart to prep the motor housing and something could have fallen into the reservoir. Also, the p/o's mechanic doesn't seem all that good.

My mechanic told me a new one would be around $500. Does this sound reasonable? What other options do I have at this point?

Thanks,
Scott

Look here on iboats in the boat parts and acc. Maybe they have one

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

Normally PTT pumps are avail aftermarket. ARCO makes some. I recommend you google some suppliers and see what they have. Aftermarket PTT motors are usually in the $200 range to buy. Installation is pretty easy.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

blew the side off the pump?

I wonder what that means?

As you lower the system the oil reservoir becomes pressurized. If you overfill then you can split the reservoir. I think on your engine the reservoir is part of the motor. Most '99 115 that I have seen use the single ram 3w system with 5/8" mounting. You are going to have to convert to 2w because the 3w motors are not made anymore. You can either convert the whole system ($450ish) or the motor($200ish). It depends upon how much faith you have in the rest of the system. It's not due to start problems for another 5-10 years.

Your new motor being 2w is going to require relays instead of solenoids. If your old trim motor was 3w then it has a pair of control solenoids mounted near the starter. Your simply remove the solenoids and their little 12" harness and replace it with relays and their little 12" harness. the switch, the fuses. the starter, and all the other wiring in your boat stays the same. It takes about 30-40 minutes.

also, if you had 3w then you did not have an anode strap. make sure to get one and install it. if you don't then you'll eat up your trim with electrically induced corrosion. They strap is under $3 from mercury. You can make one from #180 SS fishing leader and a pair of crimp-on ring terminals. It is just a strap that goes from front outer bolt on trim motor to an anode bolt. The chinese motors are particularly bad about inducing corrosion. They're pretty good motors, but you need to pay extra attention to corrosion with them.

oh, and another also, be careful to use the right driveshaft length. Too long and it can crack the insides of your trim motor or pump gears. Too short and it can fall out of gear.

IF, on the other hand, it is not the trim motor reservoir, then you should hit ebay and hunt down a professional rebuild. There could be more things going on.

hope that helps.

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

RRitt -

Thanks for this detailed explanation! I'm planning on stopping by the shop today to find out more details about exactly what happened. It's great now though, knowing more specifics about what could have happened and what my options are. They suggested that some dirt could have fallen into the reservoir when I had the motor off, but it sounds like it could have also happened if they filled it up too much. I'm pretty sure they had to put oil in because the mechanic knew I had emptied the reservoir to check for water (per his suggestion).

If it helps determining between the 2w and 3w motor, my motor housing is the round one, not square. After reading some more about the various motor options, I think I do have the newer 2w. I has permanent magnets and only 2 wires exiting the motor. Maybe the p/o did the switch already.

As far as I know, it was the pump under the motor that blew out, not the motor itself. The anode strap explains why the motor housing was SO rusty, even though the p/o had supposedly replaced it not too long ago - there was no anode strap.

I wonder if I can keep the motor and replace just the pump that burst? I think either way, I should ask them to do a through flush of the whole system.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

Oh, and thanks to whoever moved this to the Mercury & Mariner Outboards section. I hadn't realized trim/tilt was considered part of the engine.

 

[mgmidget72]

Re: Tilt/Trim Pump Replacement Options

Just stopped by the mechanic and found out some more details -

It is the reservoir at the bottom of the motor that exploded. There was a big crack along the side of it. He explained that that way the cylinder & pump are set up, you can't really explode the reservoir by overfilling. It pumps fluid to the top to push the cylinder down, and pumps to the bottom to push it up. So, no matter which way your are going, it's pressurizing the fluid.

He has a Merc motor on hand and can order me an Arco for ~$100 cheaper. He doesn't mind either way. Then they would flush the full system before installing the new motor. Once it's all together, they'd paint everything, which is why I had it there to begin with. The problem though, is who knows what kind of shape the internals of the cylinder, pump, and small passage ways are in.

Another option he suggested was to replace the entire tilt/trim unit - cylinder, pump, motor, everything. He has a junked Merc coming in this week, and expects the trim unit to be in good shape. If there aren't any indications that this unit has any issues, I'm leaning towards this option. The total cost is roughly the same, maybe a little higher for this option.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Scott