Please help with diagnosing my volvo 280 tilt issue

[boatingmark]

Hi all

Need some help if you'd be so kind!

My drive wont move at all, all I get is the sound of the motor apon pressing the switch!

Ive had the top of the electrical box open, the micro limit switch works and ive inspected the relays which look ok.

What could it be please? Could replacing the relays correct this problem or could it be the locking mechanism or vice rod?

Thanks

Mark

 

[captmello]

If the motor is turning than I would look to see if the locking mech isn't releasing, or the tilt may be broken internally. Once the box is removed, it isn't hard to remove the tilt, remove the top cover and inspect the insides. keep the parts in order as you remove them. If the rod from the locking mech isnt protruding through the arm on the outdrive, the sleeve on the top of the rod may be damaged, which is not uncommon...The sleeve screws onto the end of the rod.

 

[boatingmark]

If the motor is turning than I would look to see if the locking mech isn't releasing, or the tilt may be broken internally. Once the box is removed, it isn't hard to remove the tilt, remove the top cover and inspect the insides. keep the parts in order as you remove them. If the rod from the locking mech isnt protruding through the arm on the outdrive, the sleeve on the top of the rod may be damaged, which is not uncommon...The sleeve screws onto the end of the rod.

Thanks for the reply.

Im pulling the boat out the water very soon to change the bellow due to a leak to the drive, ill have a good look at the locking mechanism then, im assuming if its not right it will be visibly obvious?

If I were to pull the tilt completely im assuming I have to have the boat out the water anyway or is the tilt assembly normally above the water line?

Just to be clear the fact the motor if running means the relays are fine because current is passing through them?

Thanks!!

 

[captmello]

unless you are familiar with the lockdown mech, it may not be obvious.
Have a look at this picture. the round flat disk, is the foot of the tilt mech. below is the thrust sleeve that is screwed onto the rod that disconnects the lockdown. the sleeve should stick up out of the arm on the outdrive so that the tilt foot contacts the unlocking rod first before raising the outdrive.

I wouldn't pull the tilt with the boat in the water.

If the tilt motor runs when you try to tilt, the relays wouldn't be my center of attention.

One thing to test is, when you try to tilt the outdrive fully down, the tilt should activate the limit switch in the black box which should stop the motor, and the indicator light should go out. this should work even if the lock mech isn't releasing. the limit switch keeps the unit from damaging itself. the switch is in the center of the black box. BTW, dont overtighten the 2 through bolts in the black box. they should be just tight enough to keep the box from moving up and down, but it will still turn on top of the tilt assembly.

 

[boatingmark]

thank you very much captmello great info.

Ill check all this when I pull the boat out, it sounds best to check the locking mech first then if need be strip the tilt down to inspect the internals!

 

[boatingmark]

unless you are familiar with the lockdown mech, it may not be obvious.
Have a look at this picture. the round flat disk, is the foot of the tilt mech. below is the thrust sleeve that is screwed onto the rod that disconnects the lockdown. the sleeve should stick up out of the arm on the outdrive so that the tilt foot contacts the unlocking rod first before raising the outdrive.

I wouldn't pull the tilt with the boat in the water.

If the tilt motor runs when you try to tilt, the relays wouldn't be my center of attention.

One thing to test is, when you try to tilt the outdrive fully down, the tilt should activate the limit switch in the black box which should stop the motor, and the indicator light should go out. this should work even if the lock mech isn't releasing. the limit switch keeps the unit from damaging itself. the switch is in the center of the black box. BTW, dont overtighten the 2 through bolts in the black box. they should be just tight enough to keep the box from moving up and down, but it will still turn on top of the tilt assembly.

Well i pulled the boat today, ive checked over the locking mech, there seems little wear to the hooks and pin, i operated the rod by hand, it moves freely and again little wear to the sleeve and sits above. I do think it needs adjustment though. When the outdrive sits in its natural down position the hooks arent neatly tucked behind the pin, its not until i start to lift it up manually (approx 10mm) that it engages correctly and in turn the sleeve at the top of the rod moves slightly further upwards meaning its more exposed. How can i adjust this please or is it ok?

Now ive seen and understand how this works, im now thinking the worm gear that moves the flat round disc down onto the sleeve isnt moving at all, not even enough to make the light come on to say the gear/lift is moving and ive tested the micro switch that operates this light, like i said before the motor works but im thinking it doesnt shut off on operation because the gear isnt hitting the limit switches!?

Any info would be great, i guess the next thing will be to pull it from boat, does the rod with the flat disc remain in place and i just remove the worm gear and assembly?

Many thanks

 

[captmello]

Yep, pull it. The whole assembly will come out, rod, foot and all. Just remove the two bolts at the base of the lift.

 

[captmello]

Its not unusual for the lock to be past the catch bar and seem loose, don't worry about that.

 

[boatingmark]

Thank you very much.

I'm having terrible trouble getting the whole assembly out, seems stuck in the transom.

I've stripped the top section down to see if I can see any obvious problems but all looks ok.
Really need it all out, any ideas?

Tap the flat round section that's on the outside upwards perhaps?

 

[boatingmark]

Still no luck on getting the complete unit out. After stripping down the top section Ive managed to move the worm gear downwards by about 10mm by tapping it, its pretty solid. Surely it shouldnt be this tight?

I reassembled it just to see if i could get movement using the motor but sadly all im getting now is a clicking sound when i switch the button either up or down, im guessing these are the relays? The light next to the switch is now permanently on due to the worm gear being lower and disengaging the limit switch!

Cant believe my luck there seems to be a whole host of issues with it. With the relays just clicking is my motor shot or could it actually be the relays preventing the motor from working?

Please Help!!!

 

[dennis461]

"...by tapping it..."
You probably made things worse.
To get mine out I had to clear as much stuff away from the base unit as possible.
You need to get two or three small flat blade screwdrivers and sharpen them up.
Then,drive them into the extremely small gap between the trim unit base and the strendrive.
The try tapping up on the rod outside the stern of the boat.

BE PATIENT. I tried removing one from a donor boat once and could not get it out.

 

[boatingmark]

"...by tapping it..."
You probably made things worse.
To get mine out I had to clear as much stuff away from the base unit as possible.
You need to get two or three small flat blade screwdrivers and sharpen them up.
Then,drive them into the extremely small gap between the trim unit base and the strendrive.
The try tapping up on the rod outside the stern of the boat.

BE PATIENT. I tried removing one from a donor boat once and could not get it out.

Thanks for your response Dennis.

I'm hoping I haven't made things worse, as I understand it the worm gear just runs in a keyway, tapping the rod downwards to begin with to try and free it up seemed more logical seeing its a lot easier to get to. I then tried tapping it upwards but it won't budge.
I've applied a little heat but still nothing.

I'll have another go. With regards to the motor/relays, what are these symptoms off?

Thanks.

 

[captmello]

I may have put a pipe wrench toward the base of the unit to give it a twist to try to loosen it up a bit, but its been a while. Like dennis461 said, take your time, you don't want to damage the housing.

get the mechanicals figured out, then move to the electrical.