Hydro assist stuck, how to fix and how to temporarily lift leg to move boat?

[BoatFisho]

Had my hydro assist 50hp yamaha 3 cyl out the other day. For some reason the hydro assist lifter is floppy. Like its snapped a pin or something.

What could have happened?

In the mean time is there any way to disengage the locked down leg and lift the leg so i can move the boat?

 

[BoatFisho]

I should add, I dont think its lake of fluids, I think something has snapped as one minute the lever is firm to push up or down, and after being out it was just limp

 

[99yam40]

From you description, I am not sure what a hydro assist is.
Could it be electric tilt and trim?
But then being floppy does not describe anything on a power T&T

 

[BoatFisho]

No over here we still have2 and 3 cyl 2 strokes in the portable to mid range, sometimes higher.

A hydro tilt assist is simply a hydraulic jack in the back of the engine, you engage and disengage it via its lever. Down locks it, up lets you lower or raise it. So saw you want to shallow water drive in a few feet of water you can lift it and lock it and shallow water drive.

Because 40hp and up are quite heavy the hydro assist (thats yamahas name for it) is really a necessity to do anything quickly.

The problem is my lever has just gone slack, like its all wobbly and feels like its broken away from the engagement. I think it has a lock nut, perhaps that broke. I dont think there are any issues with the fluid levels or the hydro system, because its locked in down position and all has been serviced recently.

Im going to access the manual release screw later so I can lift the leg and see if I can get to the hydro assist lever itself to see if its simply wobbling about because its snapped or disengaged due to a connector screw breaking. I hope thats what it is.

Was just hoping someone on here might have experienced it?

 

[alldodge]

Did some looking on boatinfo http://boatinfo.no/lib/yamaha/manuals/1997-2003yamaha.html#/558

There is a bolt on the back of the lever, kind of a set screw, see if its still tight.
If its tight it looks like the lower shock mount pin can be removed to allow it to be raised up

 

[BoatFisho]

Thanks, I had a look earlier before I saw your post. Stupid sign on the outside suggesting screw driver manuel over ride. I thought I was meant to put my screw driver through that hole but it appears the screw is lower down on the unit facing 90 degrees (toward me). Agggh.

Got my headlamp out, it appear a hex nut holds the lever on, when I toggle the lever it appears to move with the lever. My worst fear is the nut has snapped and left its kindred in the hole (meaning drilling it out). That would be out of my leg. Or perhaps the hex bolt just presses into something and its slid out. I havnt lifted the leg yet with what I hope is the manual release screw, but Im hoping for the best

 

[BoatFisho]

Mines a little different to the above, the bolt goes on the side of the hydro lever