Tilt/Trim - 1983 Mercury 80 hp

[giantpike]

I recently purchased a boat with a 1983 80 hp Mercury (4 cyl, serial nr. 6235415). The tilt/trim was not working. I checked the motor above the reservoir and it was not working. I replaced it and used the existing solenoids and wires. Now, I simply get a clicking sound on the up and down solenoids when I press the switch (up or down) on control arm. I get the same clicking sound when I press the trailer switch. The motor does not activate. Where do I go from here?

 

[MCotherman]

Re: Tilt/Trim - 1983 Mercury 80 hp

Assuming good battery.

Did you run your trim motor before you installed it on the boat? Just using the wiring harness and a battery?

Check voltage on trim motor side of solenoids with multimeter (cheap at Radio Shack) when someone is pressing the tilt up/down switch (in both directions). Don't know if it's a 2 wire or 3 wire trim harness. 2 wire: green is positive 12v and blue is ground for trim up and blue is 12v and green is ground for down... think I remember that right. 3 wire: just has a ground and green and blue +12v operate the motor as above.

If you have +12v on the trim motor side of each solenoid make sure your ground is good. Clear as mud?

If no voltage, solenoids are probably bad...

It's a pretty simple circuit. I just rebuilt mine on a 115 Merc.

 

[giantpike]

Re: Tilt/Trim - 1983 Mercury 80 hp

Thanks for the info....I will give the tests a try!

(I think the solenoids are bad)