Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

[chapelhill90]

I have a 1983 EBBTIDE DYNATRAK bass boat with a Evinrude 85 HP motor on the back. We have been getting her ready for the lake and while in the process of getting it prepared we came across a pretty big problem that has stumped us. The first time we started preparing the motor when we tried to tilt the motor up it worked fine, when we tried to trim the motor down it acted like it wanted to go down but it did not move far at all before it just stopped working. Now everytime we try to lower the motor all we hear is a faint popping noise. My uncle and I are completely stumped; we have tested the battery and it is at full strength, we have tried everything we can think of and so far nothing has worked. Can anyone give us a direction to go in? I heard that if it was the motor then it wouldn't be going in either direction, is this true? Also, it has blown around 4 or 5 fuses in the process of trying to trim the motor down. We have tried to check the solenoid but did not try to hard because we weren't 100% sure of how or what would help. We have the blue, black and green wires going to the solenoid, I know these are coming from the tilt/trim motor could there be a bad connection or what is going on? ANY AND ALL HELP IS APPRECIATED!!! THE FISH ARE BITING IT IS TIME TO BE ON THE WATER


We were able to get the motor to trim all the way down and all the way back up last week and even took the boat out, but now a week later it is stuck in the up position and is not showing any signs of trimming down.

 

[chapelhill90]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

Can Nobody Out There Point Me In The Right Direction? I Know Somebody Has Been Here Before. Please?

 

[daselbee]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

Just now came acroos this post.
I will try to help.
I am concerned that you are blowing fuses in this process.
If the T/T motor is stalled, or stuck, and cannot turn for some mechanical reason, the current flow thru the motor will be much higher than normal.
Therefore the blowing fuses.

Also, you can test the T/T motor and pump by disconnecting the black, blue and green wires and powering the T/T motor directly with the battery at this point. Connect the black wire to batt negative, and test by connecting the blue wire to the batt positive for up, and the green wire to the batt positive for down.
Be very careful. Doing it this way, you have NO protection from an electrical overcurrent condition. If it operates normally, it will spark heavy, but if the motor is stuck, it will really spark big, and you have to be very careful that you don't melt the wires.

 

[chapelhill90]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

thanks man. I will try this tomorrow and see what happens. Do you think a lack of fluid would be a reason that the motor wont go down? I've heard that adding fluid to the motor could possibly help, what do you think?

 

[daselbee]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

Lack of fluid...the motor just spins, no hydraulic action is created.
You have to eliminate the "APPARENTLY" locked up motor condition first.
Be careful, those wires can get hot and melt quick. Go easy at first.
I cannot stress this enough. Don't want you to burn up the wiring, and cause more problems.

 

[chapelhill90]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

Hey man I tried what you told me today and we came to the conclusion that the tilt and trim motor is stuck. We are going to buy a complete new motor and install it next week. Thanks for the help and information!

p.s. does anybody out there know what the BEST brand of Tilt and Trim motors is? There are a few different brands I'm looking at and i didnt know if the brand made a difference or if anybrand was better than the other? Thanks!

 

[daselbee]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

Pull it off, and test it electrically again. See if it runs "on the bench".
You could have something in the T/T unit making it lock up.

 

[chapelhill90]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

Thanks for everything man, we are pulling it off tomorrow and seeing what we can figure out. You've helped us alot man I got one more question for ya; we are replacing the bilge pump while we are working on the boat, is there a right or wrong bilge pump to go in there just as long as it is the same gpm? I don't think it matters just as long as it is the same GPM thanks again for everything.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Help!! Tilt And Trim Problems

I usually try to get the EXACT SAME bilge pump. The mounting holes will not have to be modified, and if you are lucky, the original base that screws to the boat bottom can remain where it is, and you can snap the new pump body right on there without alot of hassle.
As far as GPM, the same or greater is fine. Make sure the outlet nipple fits your existing hose.