Trim Not Working - Help Please

[Jdwilli]

2014 5.7 Mercruiser I/O Bravo 3 - outboard trim not working, stuck in 100% down position; question #1 how do I diagnose the problem?; question #2, does it hurt anything if I go boating with the trim not working? I have owned a boat for a long time, first time I have had this problem. I am an amateur mechanic, so help appreciated.

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

You can drive it as long as you don't hit anything with it. ( low water etc )

As far as trim up debug -- A few suggestions

What happens when you trim switch down -- is it the same response ? ( any noise or click )

Have you tried the trailer button is it the same response ? ( any noise or click )


Are their any loose electrical connectors on the trim pump ?

Do you have access to a Digital Volt Meter and now hot to use it ? If so I would look at the trim relays -- if the voltages are present as expected it could be the trim up relay.

 

[harringtondav]

^^ Ditto, plus more. wellcraft's suggestions will tell you if your helm trim/tilt switches are working and sending signal voltage to your trim solenoids. Clicking sounds in each direction indicate yes. A whine noise indicates the solenoid is delivering high amp voltage to your trim pump.
-No "clicks" up, down, trailer = bad helm switches or bad small wire connections at the solenoids. Ground connection is critical.
- Solenoid clicks absent in either direction point to that solenoid or a bad small wire connection. Sounds like yours is the up solenoid.
- Solenoid clicks without trim pump whine indicate a bad solenoid or trim pump.

Per wellcraft a 12V meter will narrow down the guessing. The switch voltage pulls in a high voltage solenoid contact which delivers 50 amp battery voltage to the pump. Both directions.

Driving with your trim full down will work....kinda, but it will drag your performance. Worse is when you need to put your boat on a trailer, Your out drive skeg will object. Fix the problem.

 

[Bondo]

outboard trim not working, stuck in 100% down position; question #1 how do I diagnose the problem?;

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,........ 1st thing ya do is tell Us what it does, or doesn't do, when ya push the trim switch up, or down,.....

Question for you,..... What's the back-story of the boat,..??

New to you,..??
Just comin' outa winter storage,..??
Has been sittin' tied to a dock in south florida for the last few months,..??

 

[Jdwilli]

Thanks for the responses! When I push the trim switch up I hear the electrics kick in like normal but nothing happens. Before it failed in the down position, it would raise up but not stay up very long, it would just go to the 100% down position on Its own

 

[Jdwilli]

I have owned the boat since new and just took it out of winter storage, this happened on the first cruise for 2019

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Is the oil tank full,..??

 

[Jdwilli]

I just had a close look, and I have a hydraulic problem. The oil reservoir is almost empty and I had a bunch of oil on the bottom of my boat near the drain plug. I think the leak is at one of the hose connections to the pump. The hose connection looks like a threaded fitting and quick connect and the quick connect does not look like it is seated properly but I am not sure. Anybody familiar without th this type of connection and if so any recommendations on disconnecting, inspecting, and retorquing, etc? I don’t want to mess anything up. Thanks

 

[Jdwilli]

Still have a hydraulic leak somewhere. Thought it was a connection to the pump. Where else should I check? Access is limited. Appreciate any help.

 

[Bondo]

Still have a hydraulic leak somewhere. Thought it was a connection to the pump. Where else should I check? Access is limited. Appreciate any help.

Ayuh,.... The other end of those hoses are accessed from up under the transom housin', outside the hull,....

2 nuts, pull the manifold down, 'n there they are,.....

 

[Jdwilli]

So you are saying I need to pull the boat out of the water on the trailer and I can get to the other end of the two hoses from the outside by disconnecting a manifold? That is how I change out a leaking hose? Is this manifold the thing that connects the external stainless steel hoses to the two trim cylinders? If so, what parts will I need to change out a leaking hose (other than just the hose)? Should I change both of the hoses out while I am doing this? I found a leak in one of the hoses about a foot from the pump (at a crimp). Thanks so much; I am getting frustrated in Tx

 

[Bondo]

So you are saying I need to pull the boat out of the water on the trailer and I can get to the other end of the two hoses from the outside by disconnecting a manifold? That is how I change out a leaking hose? Is this manifold the thing that connects the external stainless steel hoses to the two trim cylinders? If so, what parts will I need to change out a leaking hose (other than just the hose)? Should I change both of the hoses out while I am doing this?

Yes,..... 'n there's a gasket for the manifold,....

 

[Jdwilli]

How do I make sure there is no air in the system?

 

[Jdwilli]

How important is the electrode box that attaches to bottom of the hydraulic manifold? I “lost” the orange and black wires

 

[Jdwilli]

I hope Bondo Is around

 

[Bondo]

How do I make sure there is no air in the system?

How important is the electrode box that attaches to bottom of the hydraulic manifold? I “lost” the orange and black wires

Ayuh,..... The system is self-purgin',.... Just run it up, 'n down a few times,.....

The box is the Mercathode, an anti-corrosion system,.....

 

[achris]

How important is the electrode box that attaches to bottom of the hydraulic manifold? I “lost” the orange and black wires

Do you leave the boat in the water? If so, you need to repair them.... If not, replace it with an Alpha One Gen II anode.

Chris.....