Need some Help here- Motor TRIM

[86venture]

Hey, I was getting my boat ready to start fishing some. I put it up for the winter in late October. Yesterday I got the batteries charged and I put the water spout on the motor to crank it. When I started to let the motor down. It would not move. I could here a click everytime but still no movement. The motor did seep all the way down and I started it with no problem, but it would still not go up or down, just clicked. I had to jack it back up. I have a mercury 135 the trim unit has a motor pumpto the right a cylinder in the middle and a fill resevor on the left. The Fluid was filled to the top. Do any of you think that the motor pump is bad, or is there something else to check? How would you go about taking it off to check it out? I would appreciate any help on this matter. I would let somebody else fix this if the cost was within my budget.

 

[derek81]

Mine did the same thing when it went out on my smaller boat, i know a guy that can rebuild them which for me was a lot cheaper than buying a new one.

 

[wrechin2]

Some have 3 wire trim motors that use solenoids and some use 2 wire motors with relays. Mostly dependent on year and if original motors. On a 2 wire system, a relay can go bad and make it not work either direction because of how they are wired. If it has a 3 wire system and a solenoid goes bad they will work one way and not the other if one of the solenoids go bad. May be anything from a poor connection to stuck brushes. DO NOT BEAT on it as this may crack the magnets and will make you have to replace the motor due to it can not be rebuilt with broken magnets.

 

[dragfish]

If you can find the solenoids or relays, in some cases O'Reillys can match them up. Take the part in. If not try a marine dealer-I like Island Cove, they'll do all they can to help.

 

[86venture]

Thanks for the help, I do know there are three wires that come out of the motor and go up to some kind of block. Let me know if there is something elase I can do with it.</p>

 

[86venture]

Do you know if it will mess anything up if I take the motor off to see if the brushes are stuck? It being under pressure I did not know if I would mess up anything or if it would blow apart?

 

[wrechin2]

The motor is not simple to take off unless it is some of the aftermarket ones, then not always simple either.

Most cases, IF ON A JACK PLATE, You will need to unbolt the steering cable that goes through the tilt tube, support the engine on the left bracket with the trailer lever, turn the manual valve to relieve any pressure, and split the transom bracket. to gain access to the bolts that hold it on. If the cowling is a 1 piece the lower pan will need to come off as well.

If it is not on a jack plate you will need to swing it off the boat so you can reseal it to the transom. Then do the above steps.

Give it a LIGHT LIGHT tap with a screwdriver handle on the very top of the motor were the wires go in. If the brushes are stuck this SHOULD be enough to move them. AGAIN VERY LIGHTLY!!!!! If you hit it with a hard object on the side you may crack the magnets and then the motors is junk. Hope this helps!

Is the fill for the reservoir facing the side or the rear???

 

[86venture]

The fill for the reservoir is facing the side. I did not get to work on it last night. I will try tapping on it this evening before I try to take it off. Thank you for the advice. If the motor is gone, how mich would it normally cost to fix the problem?

 

[wrechin2]

That is a side filled one and depends on if it is square or round and factory. There are direct replacements for the square motors and a adapter kit for one. If it is a factory round, you will have to replace the pump and motor assembly and is about $200 more. STAY AWAY FROM THE MES BRAND. I have had a lot of issues with them. Arco or API.

Motor/Upgrade kit $306 from PRO marine
Pump/Motor kit (for round) API $496 ARCO $572

Hope this helps. Most starter and alternator shops can rebuild them.

 

[86venture]

Wrechin2 I went out last night and tapped away on the pump motor and it would not work. The motor is squareish, has 4 phillips screws on top and only one that I could see allen screw holding it down, also it has 2 allen screws down at the bottom for what reason I do not know. will one side of that bracket hold that heavy motor? I am starting to think this is not a job for me. I would have to move that bracket out of the way to get the motor off. I can probably take the 4 screws out of the top without removing the bracket. Whats your suggestion?

 

[wrechin2]

Need to make sure it is the motor before you pull it off. If you pull the 4 screws out on top, it will come off then there will be 3 screws attaching the bottom plate to the pump assy. I always take it off because I do the upgrade kit to the 2 wire system and it is a pain even with the bracket split.

Do you hear the up and down solenoid clicking?????

 

[86venture]

Wrechin2, I do here the up and down solenoid clicking. Is that a good thing?

 

[wrechin2]

This evening when you get a few minutes standing in front of the boat, give me a call. I will walk you through some tests.

 

[86venture]

Wrenchin, sorry for not calling you, I just noticed you asked me too. I got out and removed the wires and cleaned them and beat on the motor to try to release the brushes. I charged up the battery real good. Low and behold the trim motor started up. Then nothing. So I thought to myself....self is the battery finally wooped....self said try jumper cables with the truck. I got the cables out and put them on the starter battery and the motor started up and down moving the Mercury 135 with no problem. I think the whole problem was my battery on its last leg. It started the motor fine but was not enough to push the trim motor. Thanks to everyone who helped me out. Now I have to buy some batteries. Boats are not cheap.

 

[wrechin2]

Glad you figured it out!