New (to me) pontoon - Tilt and Trim Help Needed - 1986 Force 85 hp

[kevinstan]

Just got a great deal on a pontoon. Older but super clean. It has a 1986 force 85hp on it. The tilt / trim currently is not working. The previous owner told me it was leaking fluid slowly and he would top it off after every few trips out. It sat over the winter under a shed, and now it won't even do anything. No noise, no nothing when trying to trim from the handle. I am fairly new to this and trying to figure out where to start. Any help that anyone can give me would be awesome. I am sure I will have more questions also, but this is where I am starting since this seems to be the biggest issue that needs to be resolved first before I can hit the water. Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Dos the shifter have the trim switch built in? or is it on the dash?
​It sounds like the accessory power lead might not be hooked up?
The 86 used a separate power lead.
​Check the fuse and all the connections.
​WD "IN" the switch.
​Test light and see if the power is getting through to the motor?
The switches can be corroded and not allowing power through.

 

[kevinstan]

Yes. The shifter has the trim switch built in. Coming from the shifter is a single cable holder with numerous cables coming out of it that goes to the engine. Not sure which one I am looking for. Where do the cables go to? Does it go directly to the motor? Or does it go to the tilt / trim pump ? Is there a way to test and troubleshoot ?

 

[Scott Danforth]

lets start with the basics

did you remove the batteries over the winter? did you clean the terminals when you re-installed them.

there would have been connections for the motor, connections for the trim, and connections for a bunch of accessories for the boat

do you have power to the dash?



with any new to you boat, you need to also do all the maintenance on the motor - water pump, plugs, gear oil, etc.

 

[kevinstan]

I just purchased the boat yesterday. I am not sure what the previous owner had done to the boat. He only said that he knew it had a slow leak in the fluid from the tilt / trim pump and he would top it off every so often. He told me that after he parked it for the winter, he went to raise the motor, and nothing. So I am trying to figure out where to start troubleshooting for the tilt and trim.

 

[jerryjerry05]

The low oil wouldn't stop the T@T.
The wiring on the 86 could have the T@T wires in the control cable, maybe not?
Take a few pics of the wires, shifter, T@T pump, and under the cowl.
​The second post in the Force forum covers testing of the T@T

A loose wire at the battery area might be the problem.
Look around for a wire just laying on the floor??