Tohatsu 9.8A3 EP no tilt lock

[geopilot]

New to the forum- bought a sailboat with a 2013 Tohatsu 9.8A3 remote version (EP). Tilt lock is not catching at the highest position- (the tilt lock is different on the remote version than the tiller). I've tried the spring knob in the lock and unlock positions, will not stay up. Any tips on where to start- boat is in the water for the season and I cannot see what is going on from above.
Thanks!

 

[pvanv]

Check in the owners manual available at tohatsu.com. Sounds like you are only going to shallow water position.

 

[Sea Rider]

Welcome to Iboats,

Does this illustration matches your current 9.8B3 assembly ?


Happy Boating

​

 

[geopilot]

Thanks, but no, mine is the A3 EP version- see attached. Tilt lock knob is #11- but not sure that is the problem. The shallow drive positions engage and disengage properly. Just can't get it to engage at the fully-up tilt position. I may need to take a swim and see what is going on from below.

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks, but no, mine is the A3 EP version- see attached. Tilt lock knob is #11- but not sure that is the problem. The shallow drive positions engage and disengage properly. Just can't get it to engage at the fully-up tilt position. I may need to take a swim and see what is going on from below.

I'm not familiar with that particular model, I'm more inclined that will need to remove parts 20-22-23-21-16-17, clean and grease them well with proper marine grease. All manual tilt mechanisms will not lock and engage well at the fully up position the sooner or later specially if it's a salt water motor living at sea....

Happy Boating

​

 

[pvanv]

I'm not familiar with that particular model, I'm more inclined that will need to remove parts 20-22-23-21-16-17, clean and grease them well with proper marine grease. All manual tilt mechanisms will not lock and engage well at the fully up position the sooner or later specially if it's a salt water motor living at sea....

Happy Boating

​

Sounds likely.

 

[Sea Rider]

At a closer schematic look rod 18 is which holds in place the metal bracket 16, that rod it's surely stuck salted, oxidized already inside both upper bushings and not letting the spring 17 do it's full up-down work when seting the lever to max tilt position. Check....

Happy Boating​

 

[Sea Rider]

At a closer schematic look rod 18 is which holds in place the metal bracket 16, that rod it's surely stuck salted, oxidized already inside both upper bushings and not letting the spring 17 do it's full up-down work when seting the lever to max tilt position. Check....

Happy Boating​

 

[geopilot]

Thanks, will check this weekend and get it lubed up good.

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks, will check this weekend and get it lubed up good.

To limmaculate clean and grease it good will need to remove both mentioned parts, don't know if possible to do it with motor installed on a sailboat, if so watch out for those parts not falling into the blue...

Happy Boating​

 

[geopilot]

Thanks for all the help but in the end it was user error! I was pulling the motor up too far, past the position for the highest tilt. I discovered the trick is to pull it up just until you hear the last click, then lower and it will stay up. If you pull up past the last click (full travel) it releases the locking rod and will not stay up (same as when you want to lower it).
So the procedure is:
- Tilt lock knob in unlock position
- Pull up until you just hear the last click, and release
- Move tilt lock knob to lock position (optional)
- To release move lock knob to unlock position, pull up on motor to release and lower gently.
This is not really detailed in the owner's manual, but anyway, apologies for any confusion.

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks for all the help but in the end it was user error! This is not really detailed in the owner's manual, but anyway, apologies for any confusion.

Nice to read about that, avoided a tedious and prolonged work.

Happy Boating​