Tilt/trim manual hydraulic screw won't tighten

[wallyuwl]

Doing a new thread with a better description of the problem.

90 hp Johnson, 1986

The screw used to manually raise and lower the motor won't tighten. It leaks fluid now when the motor is raised or lowered, manually or using the trim/tilt button. This wasn't a problem before today (not tightening).

The screw is inside the hole that is circles in the pic.

Should replacing the screw solve it? Or is this a sign the threads inside the hydraulic are stripped? How do you replace it? It just spins if loosening it.

 

[racerone]

Did you remove the clip inside the hole ?

 

[wallyuwl]

Did you remove the clip inside the hole ?

Got the snap washer out. I have a pair of pliers designed for those, but was only able to get one side in the hole because the hole is small and the washer is in there a ways. But got it out of the groove enough to get the whole thing out with needle nose pliers.

I actually got the screw out by using needle nose pliers before getting the snap washer out.

I put the screw back in to see if it tightens, and it does, so not an issue with the cylinder being stripped.

So are next steps to get a new screw and snap washer, reassemble, and top off the hydraulic reservoir?

Tips on getting the new screw and snap washer in?