tilt and trim help

[els8910]

I have a 1983 omc sterndrive 140. I recently replaced the alternator and when I try to lift or lower the stern unit or the trim I just hear a click. there are about 5 different selenods, should I replace them or could the problem be something else. any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt and trim help

Check the fuses first. What is the model number? May have blown a fuse changing the stator. I assume it worked fine before?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: tilt and trim help

i would test the solenoids with a volt meter, then to the motor. are you getting electricity to it.

 

[els8910]

Re: tilt and trim help

Thanks for your response. Everything worked fine before I changed out the alternator. The fuses appear to be OK. Thanks

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt and trim help

Could you post the model number for the motor so we can better help? I was wrong in assuming the fuses since the solenoids clicked, that means that they are working. Could you tell us if the trim motor is running? If it is not running, check the battery and all connections thoroughally. Could you have left something off when re installing stator? When hitting the trim switches, since the solenoid clicks, remove the motor from the manifold and run it off the manifold. If it still does not run, the motor needs rebuilding, if the motor now runs, you will need to check the pump. Although this is just something that started after repairing the stator, I doubt this is your problem, but things to check nonetheless.

 

[els8910]

Re: tilt and trim help

Thanks, the boat is a 1983 4-winns 170 marquise omc 140. since the trim and stern lift both stopped working at the same time it seems unlikelly that it is either motor. The alternator seems to work fine when I start the engine the guage normal volts. batt is fully charged.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt and trim help

Are you getting power to the solenoids? Might have to get out the voltmeter and backtrack to figure out where the power supply stops to determine where your issue is. Wire directly and see if it works.

 

[els8910]

Re: tilt and trim help

I took some jumper cables and went from the battery to opisite sides of the connectors on the (4)selenoids and was able to get the trim motor to work. I believe the different seleniods are activated for up or down but I don't know how the switching happens. I am not sure how to test the selenoids. Thanks

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt and trim help

You will need one of santas helpers and a 12 volt test light, the kind with a long cord and a probe with a light inside. A few dollars at any auto supply.

Locate the trim pump assembly. It will have a bunch of wires with a trim motor on top and a reservoir.

I believe you will have two trim solenoids. Each solenoid has 4 terminals two large and two small. The small terminal with the black wire is the ground, the other small terminal is for the trim switch, blue for the up and green wire for the down. One large terminal is for the 12 volts from the battery and the other large one goes to the trim motor, green for down and blue for up.

Clamp your test light to a good ground. Put the probe on the small blue terminal to the switch, have a helper push the up button the light should light. Now do the same to the other solenoid green terminal and have the helper push the down button, it should light when the switch is pushed. Now put your probe on the large battery terminal, you should have power. Put your probe on the other large terminal with the blue wire. Push the up button the tester should light. If not the solenoid is bad. Do the same with the other solenoid.

If the small terminal doesn't light when the switch is pushed the switch or wiring is bad.

If the large terminal to the trim motor doesn't light the solenoid is bad.

If you get power to the trim motor on the large terminal but the trim motor doesn't move, the trim motor is bad.

Make sure you have good grounds on all the ground wires. You can test them by putting the ground wire from the tester on the the positive large terminal on the solenoid and putting the probe on the ground, the tester should light.

That's all there is to it. Read over the instructions a couple of times. Be aware on some early model trim systems there was not a down solenoid, just an up solenoid. The down used a straight connection to the trim motor, but in your case you should have two solenoids.

let us know how you do

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt and trim help

Here is an example of the solenoids with the 4 connector points.



Might also be the plug going to the solenoid. Also keep the large red umbilical plug clean with electrical contact cleaner, and smear some grease around the connection surfaces of it before re installing.

 

[els8910]

Re: tilt and trim help

I am on it, thanks very much for your help. els8910

 

[flabum]

Re: tilt and trim help

I took some jumper cables and went from the battery to opisite sides of the connectors on the (4)selenoids and was able to get the trim motor to work. I believe the different seleniods are activated for up or down but I don't know how the switching happens. I am not sure how to test the selenoids. Thanks

There is a large glass fuse inside a rubber fuse holder that feeds the trim solenoids. It is a 50 amp fuse. could be that. It should be very close to the solenoids.

 

[flabum]

Re: tilt and trim help

BTW, this should be in the sterndrive section.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: tilt and trim help

Ok good luck els, let us know what you find.

We already mentioned the fuse Flabum, he said it was fine.

 

[flabum]

Re: tilt and trim help

You will need one of santas helpers and a 12 volt test light, the kind with a long cord and a probe with a light inside. A few dollars at any auto supply.

Locate the trim pump assembly. It will have a bunch of wires with a trim motor on top and a reservoir.

I believe you will have two trim solenoids. Each solenoid has 4 terminals two large and two small. The small terminal with the black wire is the ground, the other small terminal is for the trim switch, blue for the up and green wire for the down. One large terminal is for the 12 volts from the battery and the other large one goes to the trim motor, green for down and blue for up.

Clamp your test light to a good ground. Put the probe on the small blue terminal to the switch, have a helper push the up button the light should light. Now do the same to the other solenoid green terminal and have the helper push the down button, it should light when the switch is pushed. Now put your probe on the large battery terminal, you should have power. Put your probe on the other large terminal with the blue wire. Push the up button the tester should light. If not the solenoid is bad. Do the same with the other solenoid.

If the small terminal doesn't light when the switch is pushed the switch or wiring is bad.

If the large terminal to the trim motor doesn't light the solenoid is bad.

If you get power to the trim motor on the large terminal but the trim motor doesn't move, the trim motor is bad.

Make sure you have good grounds on all the ground wires. You can test them by putting the ground wire from the tester on the the positive large terminal on the solenoid and putting the probe on the ground, the tester should light.

That's all there is to it. Read over the instructions a couple of times. Be aware on some early model trim systems there was not a down solenoid, just an up solenoid. The down used a straight connection to the trim motor, but in your case you should have two solenoids.

let us know how you do

Agreed except

the first check you need to do is check that the solenoids are actually getting power. Check the fat red cable feeding the solenoids for 12 volts. if there is no voltage there, then trace the red wire back looking for breaks, burns, blown fuses or just disconnected.




P.S. HiTrim: the solenoids are mounted on the engine on this model.
Also, this is a Stringer sterndrive, so he has two motors and 5 solenoids at the engine, and two switches at the dash