This guy is on it. I had a bouncing problem when lowering my motor. Tried many things to correct it, none worked. Followed his method and WOW, cured my bounce problem. Thanks buddy!
@@coledaddy818 level off the trim and tilt by lowering the tongue jack on the trailer to get the trim as level as possible. Then tilt the engine up & lock it. Unscrew the cap and give it an hour or two uncapped to allow the air to rise out. Micro bubbles take a while to flow through the oil and escape. Top off. Cap it and cycle up and down a few times. Repeat the process another two times. Should solve that
I have an older (1982 140 Evinrude outboard) so this was perfect. However, if you're losing hydraulic fluid, it probably means a seal in the system is cracked and is leaking. Adding more fluid means it will continue to leak to one degree or another unless seals are replaced. Until then, the tilt trim function might fail on the water. Most power trim outboards have a manual by-pass so you can raise or lower the motor if the power function fails on the water. Check your manual.
Great video - novice on this issue. 6 week wait for dealer service. Was going to have to cancel our fishing trip to South Dakota. Thank you for the video. Just subscribed as well. Just found your site.
that was a very educational video I'm so thankful for you for taking the time to show people like me how to service our tilt and trim motor I thank you
My 70HP got stuck today while on Tampa Bay. Had to idle 7 mile back to the ramp because it was trimmed halfway. It' been cavitating since I got the boat. Defiantly gonna try this. Thanks for posting.
Great job on the video. I've used the video 5 times because I forget from year to year. Really good camera angle. I had to replace the screw for my Force 120 because it's place, but I keep it as a backup to the new one in case I lose the new one.
Great video. Have to add fluid to my johnson 150 but it is down. Was watching your vid on how to add fluid and then saw this! Thanks a million reeltease😎
Mr. TXMAN, although you may be following the manual. That does not mean it is the ONLY way. In fact, the method that I am describing is actually a more time efficient way to fill your trim tilt. By not putting back the fill screw you will allow any trapped air to immediately escape. Thus if you put the fill screw back on, the air will get trapped and mix into the oil, then you will have to wait for the air to separate and escape taking a few hours. Although my method is messy, it works better.
Great story Reel. The Q/A answered most of any more questions and I am now a certified tilt/trim oil level mechanic! One question I didn't see: If your your motor 'bleeds down' overnight, is the pump needing work? (Mercury. New manual release valve and o-rings.)
What do you mean by bleeds down over night? Do you mean the engine gradually falls or lowers overtime? Or do you mean fluid is coming out of the pump overtime?
Hey Glyn, if you dont see oil leaking that is a good sign. First make sure the Manual release screw located on the right side of the T&T unit is tight. If it was loose this might be why it was lowering over time. Heres a video explaining where that manual release screw is located ua-cam.com/video/pWiE3a2vUlw/v-deo.html However, If it was tight, I would then raise the engine to the highest point and engage the engine lock so it stays in the up position. Then remove the fill screw, usually found on the right canister near the middle or top end. Once removed add fluid until it is completely full. (If the boat is on trailer, make sure to lower or raise the tongue (Front End) so the boat sits perfectly level) By positioning the boat level the fluid in the trim and tilt will also be level allowing the most fluid into your T&T. Once filled, cap it and lower then engine and raise it a few times. then go ahead and raise the engine and engage the lock, remove the fill screw one more time and inspect to see if you need more fluid. If the fluid looks bubbly or you noticed air pressure when you removed the screw, leave it standing without the screw for 15 minutes to allow any air trapped in the fluid to escape. then fill cap and should be done. Hope it all makes sense.
ReelTeaseFishing Yes it all makes sense. The motor is a 1986 Merc 90 so it has a reservoir on the left side with a fill tube down to the reservoir. The tube has a screw cap on the top. I've been filling the unit to the cap. When i run the motor in the fast section of its raise/lower it works fine but when it goes to the lowest position and then back up you can hear a 'rushing' sound like fluid being sucked in someplace. After stopping at the top and removing the cap you can see air bubbles. I'm leaving it locked up overnight with the cap off and will try tomorrow. The manual relief valve is tight and was just replace including new o-rings. No external leaks.
Glyn Thorman I filled it and let it sit overnight. No bubbles in morning so topped off and put cap on tight. Raised up and by next morning its was down. (Dropped 10" in 1.5 hrs within tilt position.) I think the pump is bleeding into the reservoir. What do you think?
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'm curious about CHANGING the fluid too. Do you know of a DIY how-to video for that? Either way, thanks!
If you want to change the fluid then I would suggest removing the screw that is near the bottom of one of the cylinders. once you remove that screw along with the fill screw it should all pour out. In all honesty I don't think you should empty it unless your fluid looks milky. emptying it can become more of a pain if it isn't necessary. Good Luck
hey bud, hope you figured how to do this by now. its quite simple as you will need to remove both screws located on your lower unit. first remove the bottom screw, then slowly remove the upper screw to allow the entire unit to empty. Makes sure to collect the oil and dump it appropriatly. Next you will attach a pump to your lower unit oil bottle and start pumping oil through the bottom screw until it start to come out the top screw. once it begins to leak out the top screw go ahead and tighten that top screw back on. next pump one or two more pumps of oil and remove the pump from the lower screw fitting. then quickly screw back the lower screw back on. (when removing the pump to put back on the screw has to be quick to minimize the amount of fluid lost. Sometimes turning your engine so the screws are facing up lifting your engine will make this step easier.) and your done. wipe down and make sure fluid isn't leaking from around the screws
I’m a big believer of, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. (On older outboards) However if you notice it jumps, squeels, make a loud noise, stalls, drops etc then I’d definitely check and add TnT fluid. This is one of those things that doesn’t need replacing or adding. As it’s only needed if a seal leaks.
yearly checks on the oil and to check for water in the oil ( milky colored oil) and when not used or stored running the trim up and down a few times maybe 1 or twice a month to keep it from freezing up. other than that rinse with fresh water after every outing. you can always coat the trim and tilt (Metal housing) with some type of spray on grease or silicone to protect it from rust every so often.
my trim motor has been real sluggish last cpl months...have to tap it with a hammer to wake it up sometimes..well it finally stopped all together. I figured out i had to take the release valve with o rings out to release pressure to manually raise motor!( Is there an easier way?) So now my fluid is drained, Should motor still work? Do you think motor is done...will putting more fluid in it help motor kick on?
I just asked this thing about today and i was told there is/or could be and automatic ventilation to let the air out... I have yamaha 1988 power trim and have to do this same thing tomorrow... Not sure about anything but I can comment it later if I fail or succeed
@@keijohoo i have a 2000 mercury and cant get it to work, i feel like it has air, it randomly will move the motor for a second but rarely.. i tried every method lowering it with screw cap off but fluid just will come out, tried manually lowering with force with manual release unscrewed and the fluid is topped off. There was no oil residue anywhere so it doesnt look like an air leak. This is such a downer
@@wazup3333 if you close the manual valve screw can you still manually raise the motor? if yes then there is a pressure leak somewhere. My power trim motor O ring has failed and it leaks the fluid/air out from there. Also you said when you manually lower the motor the fluid will come out, from where? in yamahas manual screw it only seems to open some pressure valve but not pushing any fluid out from there even when the system is sealed
@@keijohoo no when manual release valve is closed you cant lift motor, I mean when I loosen it and the motor is up, it doesnt automatically lower, I need to push it/force it. This video says to leave the fluid reservoir cap open and lower/raise engine 1:57. So mine wont go up or down when pressing the button so I did it manually via manual release and pushing it down and lifting it, but this just makes the trim fluid come out when lowering it
Most engines T&T are self bleeding, but sometimes they may fail, get dunked up etc. If you lift the engine and lock it in place remove the screw and fill to the top. Then screw it back on, and do a few cycled of up down up down. This will cycle the oil in the system. air will naturally try to find its way out, after a few cycles uncapped it. any air will be near the fill screw and top off again. you can leave it unscrewed for a few minutes to allow micro bubbles to surface, but usually a few cycles and keep topping off will do it
on the power trim it is leaking oil what can we do and do u have a video on how to do it. How much do it cost to have this done or is it something that can be done yourself they told my husband it would cost 1200 dollars to fix it. Please tell us an easy way we need the motor when we lift it leaks
Nice video. I am in the middle of replacement my power trim electric motor and I noticed the fluid is milky. I am guessing water has gotten into it over time so I am going to drain all the fluid and replace. Any tips you can give me?
Yes drain the fluid but before refilling replace all the gaskets and orings around the shafts and the fill screw. This is most likely how water got int.
Hi am new to boating, my tilt trim stopped working, i saw some fluid on my floor when i got back from the lake. What kind of fluid should i buy? You seem to have in a tube all i can find online is like penzoil type of oil. very appreciated JD.
Hey, thanks for watching. Really any trim and tilt fluid will work, some people even use ATF without any problems. I purchased that tube at Walmart, since I wasn't going to use an entire bottle I figured the tube will make applying the oil, an easier job since it's half that of the regular quart size bottles. You can also buy a small funnel/tube applicator that will screw into the quart sized bottles at any auto parts to make it easier to pour into the reservoir.
ReelTeaseFishing Actually I got it absolutely level, But it was a pain in the butt ( although completely worth it ) I had to loosen the mounting bolts (4) 3/4 bolts almost all the way out then manually lift/tilt the engine until my magnet level said it was good then wedged it in place with 2x4's and scabs, The fluid looked like frothy milk, I doubt it had ever been serviced . I did run into a situation though that I would like to address , when I got it emptied ( filling and running it up and down as the video states ) all of the sudden it wouldn't lift , The cure was sticking and holding the tube tight against the fill hole , then squeezing and pressing the up button at the same time until it was fully extended. Anyhow, Job done : ) and my tilt is holding tight where as before I would trim going down the lake only to watch it lose its trim slowly. These videos are real money savers, keep up the good work guys : )
2008 Etec 135 on a buddy's boat, once and a while the trim will go back up while cruising, all by itself. It will trim back down and work fine again, it goes all the way up and down as well. Haven't checked fluid level yet, but is that possibly the problem?
any power trim and tilt oil will work. You can find it at any of the local bait and tackles or big chain stores such as west marine, bass pro, walmart etc.
Every time you lower the engine, you will lose oil. make sure that if the boat is on a trailer, the trailer jack is set to the lowest possible or that the trim and tilt is sitting even. You don't want the boat sitting to high in the front, thus it will never allow you to fully fill your trim and tilt. Also if you cant get all the air out let it sit in the upward position with the screw cap off for about 30 min. then fill her up. cap it. lower it and allow it to stand another 30min.
i have a 2000 mercury and cant get it to work, i feel like it has air, it randomly will move the motor for a second but rarely.. i tried every method lowering it with screw cap off but fluid just will come out, tried manually lowering with force with manual release unscrewed and the fluid is topped off. There was no oil residue anywhere so it doesnt look like an air leak
@@wazup3333 Make sure the screw ( manual relief screw) on the trim and tilt is not loose. It is usually located on the lower right hand side of the trim and tilt housing. I have a video called "how to manually lift and lower your outboard" that shows that screw location. If that is nice and tight. I would suggest you raise your engine to the highest possible point.Then try to fill it to the max. leave uncapped wait 15 minutes the refill it again. then cap it and see if it will start moving. If that doesn't work try manually raising and lowering the engine a few times by hand. this allows air to be purge out of the system. then uncap and try to refill to the max. Lastly you may have a motor that has gone bad. Although usually they just ground out sometimes they burn out and just don't engage anymore.
Do you have a video or know of one that shows replacing seals around cylinders. I have a 90 etec that is leaking the trim fluid around the cylinder. There is only one cylinder for this.
You wont be able to fill it up if its in the down position because you wont be able to reach the fill screw. Your problem may not be fluid though since usually you will see the problem when the engine does not come down, or it falls slowly. If its stuck and wont go up, I'd say check the relays. there are two relays. One for up and one for down. Also do your hear any noise from the trim and tilt? Maybe low on battery? lastly I'd remove the pin connecting the engine to the main shaft and lift it.
My old 85 Mercury tilt got jammed full up and seems to keep clicking periodically on and off and drained the battery stuck along a river and wouldn't start again. Then a charged up battery again and started but the hydraulics tilt upkeep staying up and going on and off. Is this because of low hydraulic oil? I cleaned the switches panel and buttons they look good as I thought it might be short in the wires somewhere but didn't seem to fix the problem! Should I fill it the same as in the vid to fix it?
If the engine trim and tilt works fine, but the engine is getting stuck on the up position. Grease the pivot tube area. It is the area where the steering cable or hydraulic steering is mounted on the engine. You will see grease fittings. By greasing this area it allows the engine to tilt more efficiently and lower when you try to lower the engine. If the trim and tilt is not working in one or both directions and you are hearing a clicking noise. It will be a relay. If you are hearing the trim and tilt or clicking even when not pressing the trim switch, look for a short, wires corroding or possibly touching. Follow the wires and you will/should find the issue. Hope it helps
tnx for this video , i just want to know why the trim and tilt is not going up and down completely ??? works something like to half and then stop when i change the fluid... it is yamaha 40 hk ,
you do not have enough fluid in the trim and tilt, or there is air in the system. Perhaps you need to remove the fill screw and allow any trapped air to escape and fill the reservoir to the top.
I am having problems with, took the other day out and some how the Tilt was stuck all the way up, wouldn't go d own. Thought it was low on fluids and when I decided to add fluids to it, some how it was able to move up and down. Right when it went down its stuck and I don't know whats wrong with. Any suggestions? Maybe I might of let to much air in it?
I have a 95 legend with 96 mercury 115. I can trim all the way up and watch it slowly leak down until it bottoms out.. Will the fluid fix my problem or is it something else? Thanks.
i have to say, following your steps is a lot more difficult since each time lowing the motor down, the oil would spits out a lot. it makes it harder for the trim to come back up unless you add more oil into it. I went back to the manual book and doing it with the fill plug on and each time the motor is raised up, i would slowly unscrewed the plug and let the air come out. And then I would add fluid little by little. That works fine for me.
So I have an Ocean Pro 150 Evinrude/Johnson 1993 My trim motor went out on me and I had to use the manual release to raise the motor by hand so i could get home. I replaced the motor and now I can get the motor to lower but it will not raise up. How do I purge the air and fill the fluid once I get to this stage?
Nice! I got a johnson that goes down fine, but comes up very slow. Last night it didn't want to come up at all. Does that sound like low fluid or a bad relay? where are the relays?
i have 2002 yamaha outboard 90 hp. when im driving the boat and trim down as i come to a stop it makes popping noise, it only does it when in the water. if its on the trailer it doesnt make this noise, any suggestions as to what it might be ok that i can do? thanks!
I use normal car automatic transmission oil. have never had problems, of course when people do not know mechanics hydraulics or electronics they buy what the sellers want them to buy only to waste their money, to add car generator works just as well on a boat 11 years still works
I have a 2003 Hydroswift and the trim wont go down. It makes a click noise when you push on the trim but nothing besides that. Any suggestions on what it might be?
hi I have the same problem as the one below trims up and down fine but when I take off the engine slides down and I cant trim up.but when I stop it trims up fine.is it maybe low on oil?
It could be that you need a rebuild. Water probably got into the electrical area and did some damage to the brushes. Try checking the oil to make sure it is not white and try tapping the motor to see if it will work.
I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe they are pretty much the same. They work pretty much the same way. The screws might be located in a different spot though.
Have you tried turning it with an oversized flat head screw driver? It only needs to turn maybe 1 full turn for it to work. (Do not try to remove the screw)
The trim and tilt is two systems. the first is the trim, it has two pistons that raise your engine only slightly, then the tilt which is made to raise it completely for transport. the engine when under a load will not stay in the tilt position, it will lower to the trim where it should stay unless you trim it any lower. the engine after a certain RPM will usually not allow you to raise it. basically your engine will/should not run on the tilt shaft only as it cannot hold the load.
Okay, i have a 2003 mercury 175 optimax. i tried to completly change all the fluid by taking the plug out at the bottom of the trim. now that ive refilled it i cannot get the air out. everytime i lower it without the cap...i lose a crap load of fluid out the hole, then it makes a god awful noises going back up.(because it lost a ton of fluid) can you help???
Yes. If you are trying to purge it and get air out. If not fill it up with fluid. Screw back on the cap. Run it up & down a few times. Unscrew cap and refill. If you feel like there is still air. (Making a grinding noise) run it up and down a few more times and remove cap, refill, recap. Run up and down. Let sit, uncap, refill.
I'm changing the T&T fluid on my 93 60hp Merc , It's mounted on a pontoon boat and no matter how far I drop the nose the T&T mechanism will not sit level , Any suggestions on how to get it level ?
Hey thanks for watching, if there is no way to completely get it level try putting a brick or 2x4 under each tire and then slowly drivin the trailer onto them. This should raise the back end up about 2 inches, hopefully you can now get the tongue low enough to level your T&T. If that doesn't work out, try over filling the reservoir a it and then quickly get the cap screwed in. Kind of how it would be done on a lower unit oil change.
hey I tried to do the same steps as you did but the trim stopped halfway. Now it wouldn't go up nor down. and there isn't enough room to refill into the fill hole. What to do? help please. Thanks
if the fluid is too low or it has too much air, it will do what you are describing. Hopefully by now you were able to correct it but if not, here is a link to manually lift or lower your outboard. by manually lifting it you will be able to add fluid into the reservoir. Goodluck ua-cam.com/video/pWiE3a2vUlw/v-deo.html
As far as a prop. I wouldnt really be able to tell you. However you can go to www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/prop-selector/# and that will help you out with the proper size prop you need.
Hey bud, There is more to that than just a one size fits all. Everything from type of boat to the weight of the boat comes into play. I suggest going to www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/prop-selector/ to dial in on a relatively good prop for your needs
If this is the case because you powerload your boat onto your trailer, this is normal. The trim and tilt is two systems. the first is the trim, it has two pistons that raise your engine only slightly, then the tilt which is made to raise it completely for transport. the engine when under a load will not stay in the tilt position, it will lower to the trim where it should stay unless you trim it any lower. read comment above as it might help you as well. but seems like its normal.
my trim and tilt went down and didn't come back up. I hear the relay clicking but no sound from the motor. is the motor broken or do I just have to add more liquid? thanks in advance
Chan Fe if you hear the clicking then the relay is getting power. Next thing I'd check is to make sure that the actual trim motor is receiving the power. Many times especially in saltwater the connections will corrode. If the cable to the trim motor has power and the trim motor isn't operating the trim motor has failed. They are usually pretty easy to replace by removing 2-4screws and swapping with a new one.
This is an old video but I hope someone can respond soon. I just bought me a boat and the trim runs but sometimes doesn't move. At the moment it's on the trailer and all the way up but it won't come back down
If you hear the trim motor running but the engine is not moving up or down. it is low on fluid. when it is raised all the way up, it will sometimes stay stuck in this position due to lack of fluid. if you need to bring the engine down or up in the case of an emergency, ua-cam.com/video/pWiE3a2vUlw/v-deo.html
@@ReelTeaseFishing thank you. I just filled it with ATF, one straw full at a time. WOW what a mess. But that was it. It's traveling up and down as it should now. I did the same thing to my pallet jack but I just didn't make the connection. Very grateful
Yes, there is a ton of seals that seal up the trim/tilt cylinders. The seals are basically just a bunch of orings. They can be a real pain to get to especially if you have a saltwater motor. The first place to check is the fill seal where you put oil in. The next thing you should check is to see if there is any oil on the tilt/trim rods (the shiny metal rods). If there is excess oil on these or leaking around the base of the rods, the wiper seals need to be replaced.
I think its your down relay. The relay switches go bad and this is mainly what happens. if you dont hear the trim and tilt running then its most likely that.
my tilt switch clicks when I push it but the motor no longer moves. Is that an indication that I may need to add fluid or another problem altogether. (Note: it "clicks" both I push the throttle switch and the motor switch as well.). Thanks!
Steven Kent Nelson normally there are two tilt switch locations one at motor other at throttle. Does it click at both locations and not move? if yes may have issue. If one switch works and other doesn't as I've had same issue. Contact cleaner on non working switch brought mine back to work.
I just read in a comment section where some Johnson manuals say you can use dexron 2 in place of hydraulic fluid,can anyone shed any light on this? Great video by the way.
+kenny baird , Hydraulic fluid goes in the tilt and trim, not 90 wt gear oil. My Yamaha 150 manual says, "A high grade automatic transmission fluid, Dexron II may be used if Yamalube fluid is not available."
+kenny baird Of course not. I haven't said that you did. 90 wt oil doesn't belong in the discussion. I have no idea why Arthur mentions it unless he believes 90 wt oil goes in the tilt and trim. Sorry, I was was trying to clear up things by offering what my manual says. So that's two brands of outboard manufacturers manuals that say dexron II is good to go. I bought my transmission fluid to refill it last night.
Make sure there is power getting to the switch. use a multimeter or a test light to make sure. second thing do you hear a click sound when you hit the switch for up or down? if you hear a click sound it may be the relay.
if it goes up but very slow or rough it may be because of the oil. drain the oil and refill using the method above. Too little oil and it wont be able to lift the engine properly. (which sounds like your problem)
This guy is on it. I had a bouncing problem when lowering my motor. Tried many things to correct it, none worked. Followed his method and WOW, cured my bounce problem. Thanks buddy!
Glad it worked for you!! Take care Bill
Mine has the rough sound when I enter the trim stage. Lots of air still in it on the way up. But not when going down or tilting up.
@@coledaddy818 level off the trim and tilt by lowering the tongue jack on the trailer to get the trim as level as possible. Then tilt the engine up & lock it. Unscrew the cap and give it an hour or two uncapped to allow the air to rise out. Micro bubbles take a while to flow through the oil and escape. Top off. Cap it and cycle up and down a few times. Repeat the process another two times. Should solve that
Thank you bro! As simple as it seems, I like the security of seeing someone else (you!) do it first. Well done my friend, well done.
I have an older (1982 140 Evinrude outboard) so this was perfect. However, if you're losing hydraulic fluid, it probably means a seal in the system is cracked and is leaking. Adding more fluid means it will continue to leak to one degree or another unless seals are replaced. Until then, the tilt trim function might fail on the water. Most power trim outboards have a manual by-pass so you can raise or lower the motor if the power function fails on the water. Check your manual.
Great video - novice on this issue. 6 week wait for dealer service. Was going to have to cancel our fishing trip to South Dakota. Thank you for the video. Just subscribed as well. Just found your site.
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed the video and hopefully it helped you out. Thanks for the sub 👍🏽
Great tutorial...gave me the confidence I needed to do this myself. No more trips to the mechanic for such a simple task!
I use this technique every season on my 1987 Force 125 and it works extremely well.
well time to do my bass boat👍
that was a very educational video I'm so thankful for you for taking the time to show people like me how to service our tilt and trim motor I thank you
My 70HP got stuck today while on Tampa Bay. Had to idle 7 mile back to the ramp because it was trimmed halfway. It' been cavitating since I got the boat. Defiantly gonna try this. Thanks for posting.
I want to thank you for this ,it got me back on the water. I went and bought a big stout flathead and fluid $15 later I'm good.
Great job on the video. I've used the video 5 times because I forget from year to year. Really good camera angle. I had to replace the screw for my Force 120 because it's place, but I keep it as a backup to the new one in case I lose the new one.
Thanks for sharing Capt!
Good straight forward video. 😊
Great video. Have to add fluid to my johnson 150 but it is down. Was watching your vid on how to add fluid and then saw this! Thanks a million reeltease😎
Thanks for sharing the knowledge bro, much appreciated.
Thank you for watching
Great video, is there any other maintenance that is done to the tilt and trim system? Thank you.
Very informative. Nice job
That shit works!!!! Saved me $300 at the boat shop. Where do I send the check??? LOL
Mr. TXMAN, although you may be following the manual. That does not mean it is the ONLY way. In fact, the method that I am describing is actually a more time efficient way to fill your trim tilt. By not putting back the fill screw you will allow any trapped air to immediately escape. Thus if you put the fill screw back on, the air will get trapped and mix into the oil, then you will have to wait for the air to separate and escape taking a few hours. Although my method is messy, it works better.
Great story Reel. The Q/A answered most of any more questions and I am now a certified tilt/trim oil level mechanic! One question I didn't see: If your your motor 'bleeds down' overnight, is the pump needing work? (Mercury. New manual release valve and o-rings.)
What do you mean by bleeds down over night? Do you mean the engine gradually falls or lowers overtime? Or do you mean fluid is coming out of the pump overtime?
ReelTeaseFishing Yes, motor sinks down from raised position. No oil leaking out though.
Hey Glyn, if you dont see oil leaking that is a good sign. First make sure the Manual release screw located on the right side of the T&T unit is tight. If it was loose this might be why it was lowering over time. Heres a video explaining where that manual release screw is located ua-cam.com/video/pWiE3a2vUlw/v-deo.html However, If it was tight, I would then raise the engine to the highest point and engage the engine lock so it stays in the up position. Then remove the fill screw, usually found on the right canister near the middle or top end. Once removed add fluid until it is completely full. (If the boat is on trailer, make sure to lower or raise the tongue (Front End) so the boat sits perfectly level) By positioning the boat level the fluid in the trim and tilt will also be level allowing the most fluid into your T&T. Once filled, cap it and lower then engine and raise it a few times. then go ahead and raise the engine and engage the lock, remove the fill screw one more time and inspect to see if you need more fluid. If the fluid looks bubbly or you noticed air pressure when you removed the screw, leave it standing without the screw for 15 minutes to allow any air trapped in the fluid to escape. then fill cap and should be done. Hope it all makes sense.
ReelTeaseFishing Yes it all makes sense. The motor is a 1986 Merc 90 so it has a reservoir on the left side with a fill tube down to the reservoir. The tube has a screw cap on the top. I've been filling the unit to the cap. When i run the motor in the fast section of its raise/lower it works fine but when it goes to the lowest position and then back up you can hear a 'rushing' sound like fluid being sucked in someplace. After stopping at the top and removing the cap you can see air bubbles. I'm leaving it locked up overnight with the cap off and will try tomorrow. The manual relief valve is tight and was just replace including new o-rings. No external leaks.
Glyn Thorman I filled it and let it sit overnight. No bubbles in morning so topped off and put cap on tight. Raised up and by next morning its was down. (Dropped 10" in 1.5 hrs within tilt position.) I think the pump is bleeding into the reservoir. What do you think?
Thanks for the video! It was well explained and easy to understand! I appreciate it. I thought I may be looking at another whopper of a marine bill.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'm curious about CHANGING the fluid too. Do you know of a DIY how-to video for that? Either way, thanks!
If you want to change the fluid then I would suggest removing the screw that is near the bottom of one of the cylinders. once you remove that screw along with the fill screw it should all pour out. In all honesty I don't think you should empty it unless your fluid looks milky. emptying it can become more of a pain if it isn't necessary. Good Luck
hey bud, hope you figured how to do this by now. its quite simple as you will need to remove both screws located on your lower unit. first remove the bottom screw, then slowly remove the upper screw to allow the entire unit to empty.
Makes sure to collect the oil and dump it appropriatly. Next you will attach a pump to your lower unit oil bottle and start pumping oil through the bottom screw until it start to come out the top screw. once it begins to leak out the top screw go ahead and tighten that top screw back on. next pump one or two more pumps of oil and remove the pump from the lower screw fitting. then quickly screw back the lower screw back on. (when removing the pump to put back on the screw has to be quick to minimize the amount of fluid lost. Sometimes turning your engine so the screws are facing up lifting your engine will make this step easier.)
and your done. wipe down and make sure fluid isn't leaking from around the screws
How often do you recommend that the Tilt Trim Oil be checked?
I’m a big believer of, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. (On older outboards)
However if you notice it jumps, squeels, make a loud noise, stalls, drops etc then I’d definitely check and add TnT fluid.
This is one of those things that doesn’t need replacing or adding. As it’s only needed if a seal leaks.
All right Man - good stuff !!
Parabéns pelo vídeo, faz tempo que estou tentando e seu vídeo foi o primeiro que achei na internet
Nice job. Simple to the point.
yearly checks on the oil and to check for water in the oil ( milky colored oil) and when not used or stored running the trim up and down a few times maybe 1 or twice a month to keep it from freezing up. other than that rinse with fresh water after every outing. you can always coat the trim and tilt (Metal housing) with some type of spray on grease or silicone to protect it from rust every so often.
my trim motor has been real sluggish last cpl months...have to tap it with a hammer to wake it up sometimes..well it finally stopped all together. I figured out i had to take the release valve with o rings out to release pressure to manually raise motor!( Is there an easier way?) So now my fluid is drained, Should motor still work? Do you think motor is done...will putting more fluid in it help motor kick on?
What is he using to add in the screw? Hydraulic fluid?
Thanks, man!! Great video!! Very helpful!!
Thank you for watching. Glad you liked it!
4:25 how does raising it and lowering it with everything scrued on allow air to escape? if everything is screwed on air cant get out?
I just asked this thing about today and i was told there is/or could be and automatic ventilation to let the air out... I have yamaha 1988 power trim and have to do this same thing tomorrow... Not sure about anything but I can comment it later if I fail or succeed
@@keijohoo i have a 2000 mercury and cant get it to work, i feel like it has air, it randomly will move the motor for a second but rarely.. i tried every method lowering it with screw cap off but fluid just will come out, tried manually lowering with force with manual release unscrewed and the fluid is topped off. There was no oil residue anywhere so it doesnt look like an air leak. This is such a downer
@@wazup3333 if you close the manual valve screw can you still manually raise the motor? if yes then there is a pressure leak somewhere. My power trim motor O ring has failed and it leaks the fluid/air out from there. Also you said when you manually lower the motor the fluid will come out, from where? in yamahas manual screw it only seems to open some pressure valve but not pushing any fluid out from there even when the system is sealed
@@keijohoo no when manual release valve is closed you cant lift motor, I mean when I loosen it and the motor is up, it doesnt automatically lower, I need to push it/force it. This video says to leave the fluid reservoir cap open and lower/raise engine 1:57. So mine wont go up or down when pressing the button so I did it manually via manual release and pushing it down and lifting it, but this just makes the trim fluid come out when lowering it
Most engines T&T are self bleeding, but sometimes they may fail, get dunked up etc. If you lift the engine and lock it in place remove the screw and fill to the top. Then screw it back on, and do a few cycled of up down up down. This will cycle the oil in the system. air will naturally try to find its way out, after a few cycles uncapped it. any air will be near the fill screw and top off again. you can leave it unscrewed for a few minutes to allow micro bubbles to surface, but usually a few cycles and keep topping off will do it
on the power trim it is leaking oil what can we do and do u have a video on how to do it. How much do it cost to have this done or is it something that can be done yourself they told my husband it would cost 1200 dollars to fix it. Please tell us an easy way we need the motor when we lift it leaks
Nice video. I am in the middle of replacement my power trim electric motor and I noticed the fluid is milky. I am guessing water has gotten into it over time so I am going to drain all the fluid and replace. Any tips you can give me?
Yes drain the fluid but before refilling replace all the gaskets and orings around the shafts and the fill screw. This is most likely how water got int.
Hi am new to boating, my tilt trim stopped working, i saw some fluid on my floor when i got back from the lake.
What kind of fluid should i buy? You seem to have in a tube all i can find online is like penzoil type of oil.
very appreciated JD.
Hey, thanks for watching. Really any trim and tilt fluid will work, some people even use ATF without any problems. I purchased that tube at Walmart, since I wasn't going to use an entire bottle I figured the tube will make applying the oil, an easier job since it's half that of the regular quart size bottles.
You can also buy a small funnel/tube applicator that will screw into the quart sized bottles at any auto parts to make it easier to pour into the reservoir.
ReelTeaseFishing Actually I got it absolutely level, But it was a pain in the butt ( although completely worth it ) I had to loosen the mounting bolts (4) 3/4 bolts almost all the way out then manually lift/tilt the engine until my magnet level said it was good then wedged it in place with 2x4's and scabs, The fluid looked like frothy milk, I doubt it had ever been serviced .
I did run into a situation though that I would like to address , when I got it emptied ( filling and running it up and down as the video states ) all of the sudden it wouldn't lift , The cure was sticking and holding the tube tight against the fill hole , then squeezing and pressing the up button at the same time until it was fully extended.
Anyhow, Job done : ) and my tilt is holding tight where as before I would trim going down the lake only to watch it lose its trim slowly. These videos are real money savers, keep up the good work guys : )
2008 Etec 135 on a buddy's boat, once and a while the trim will go back up while cruising, all by itself. It will trim back down and work fine again, it goes all the way up and down as well. Haven't checked fluid level yet, but is that possibly the problem?
any power trim and tilt oil will work. You can find it at any of the local bait and tackles or big chain stores such as west marine, bass pro, walmart etc.
Great video buddy. Would the Mercury T&T be about the same thing?
Every time you lower the engine, you will lose oil. make sure that if the boat is on a trailer, the trailer jack is set to the lowest possible or that the trim and tilt is sitting even. You don't want the boat sitting to high in the front, thus it will never allow you to fully fill your trim and tilt. Also if you cant get all the air out let it sit in the upward position with the screw cap off for about 30 min. then fill her up. cap it. lower it and allow it to stand another 30min.
i have a 2000 mercury and cant get it to work, i feel like it has air, it randomly will move the motor for a second but rarely.. i tried every method lowering it with screw cap off but fluid just will come out, tried manually lowering with force with manual release unscrewed and the fluid is topped off. There was no oil residue anywhere so it doesnt look like an air leak
@@wazup3333 Make sure the screw ( manual relief screw) on the trim and tilt is not loose. It is usually located on the lower right hand side of the trim and tilt housing. I have a video called "how to manually lift and lower your outboard" that shows that screw location. If that is nice and tight. I would suggest you raise your engine to the highest possible point.Then try to fill it to the max. leave uncapped wait 15 minutes the refill it again. then cap it and see if it will start moving. If that doesn't work try manually raising and lowering the engine a few times by hand. this allows air to be purge out of the system. then uncap and try to refill to the max.
Lastly you may have a motor that has gone bad. Although usually they just ground out sometimes they burn out and just don't engage anymore.
Do you have a video or know of one that shows replacing seals around cylinders. I have a 90 etec that is leaking the trim fluid around the cylinder. There is only one cylinder for this.
You wont be able to fill it up if its in the down position because you wont be able to reach the fill screw. Your problem may not be fluid though since usually you will see the problem when the engine does not come down, or it falls slowly. If its stuck and wont go up, I'd say check the relays. there are two relays. One for up and one for down.
Also do your hear any noise from the trim and tilt? Maybe low on battery? lastly I'd remove the pin connecting the engine to the main shaft and lift it.
My old 85 Mercury tilt got jammed full up and seems to keep clicking periodically on and off and drained the battery stuck along a river and wouldn't start again. Then a charged up battery again and started but the hydraulics tilt upkeep staying up and going on and off. Is this because of low hydraulic oil? I cleaned the switches panel and buttons they look good as I thought it might be short in the wires somewhere but didn't seem to fix the problem! Should I fill it the same as in the vid to fix it?
If the engine trim and tilt works fine, but the engine is getting stuck on the up position. Grease the pivot tube area. It is the area where the steering cable or hydraulic steering is mounted on the engine. You will see grease fittings. By greasing this area it allows the engine to tilt more efficiently and lower when you try to lower the engine.
If the trim and tilt is not working in one or both directions and you are hearing a clicking noise. It will be a relay.
If you are hearing the trim and tilt or clicking even when not pressing the trim switch, look for a short, wires corroding or possibly touching. Follow the wires and you will/should find the issue.
Hope it helps
tnx for this video , i just want to know why the trim and tilt is not going up and down completely ??? works something like to half and then stop when i change the fluid... it is yamaha 40 hk ,
you do not have enough fluid in the trim and tilt, or there is air in the system.
Perhaps you need to remove the fill screw and allow any trapped air to escape and fill the reservoir to the top.
I am having problems with, took the other day out and some how the Tilt was stuck all the way up, wouldn't go d own. Thought it was low on fluids and when I decided to add fluids to it, some how it was able to move up and down. Right when it went down its stuck and I don't know whats wrong with. Any suggestions? Maybe I might of let to much air in it?
Hello I have the same motor my tilt(middle one) have a little seal leak. How do I remove the tilt rod to put new cap and seal on. Thanks
I have a 95 legend with 96 mercury 115. I can trim all the way up and watch it slowly leak down until it bottoms out.. Will the fluid fix my problem or is it something else? Thanks.
While I'm driving my boat the motor starts to lower it self on its own. If I do this will it stop that?
YO BRO great gd video. what fluid must i use. powersteering fluid?
can i use amsoil power steering fluid i heard it's vry good.
i have to say, following your steps is a lot more difficult since each time lowing the motor down, the oil would spits out a lot. it makes it harder for the trim to come back up unless you add more oil into it. I went back to the manual book and doing it with the fill plug on and each time the motor is raised up, i would slowly unscrewed the plug and let the air come out. And then I would add fluid little by little. That works fine for me.
I agree. When motor is coming back up.....it's spitting out fluid. Ugh. I'll try with cap on.
Help, my trim motor works going down but only rises 1".
You did it correctly lol
my Evinrude service manual says to put the screw back in only a couple threads while moving it. That way it bleeds out more air and less oil
So I have an Ocean Pro 150 Evinrude/Johnson 1993
My trim motor went out on me and I had to use the manual release to raise the motor by hand so i could get home. I replaced the motor and now I can get the motor to lower but it will not raise up. How do I purge the air and fill the fluid once I get to this stage?
Very useful. Thank You
Nice! I got a johnson that goes down fine, but comes up very slow. Last night it didn't want to come up at all. Does that sound like low fluid or a bad relay? where are the relays?
They have pills for that now. BTW your comment, pure gold.
Is there any reason to pay extra for the manufacturers brand fluid such as Yamaha or
Johnson compared to something like Pennzoil.
I have a Johnson 150vro trim and tilt works good. But when I get on the water. Trim will not hold. what. can be wrong
VERY informative video! Thanks for the info.
i have 2002 yamaha outboard 90 hp. when im driving the boat and trim down as i come to a stop it makes popping noise, it only does it when in the water. if its on the trailer it doesnt make this noise, any suggestions as to what it might be ok that i can do? thanks!
Thx this worked well for me. I had a good bit of air in it.
Great video!!!
I use normal car automatic transmission oil. have never had problems, of course when people do not know mechanics hydraulics or electronics they buy what the sellers want them to buy only to waste their money, to add car generator works just as well on a boat 11 years still works
Yes ATF works just as good. Many with new engines, use the authorized fluid to not void warranty.
I have a 2003 Hydroswift and the trim wont go down. It makes a click noise when you push on the trim but nothing besides that. Any suggestions on what it might be?
hi I have the same problem as the one below trims up and down fine but when I take off the engine slides down and I cant trim up.but when I stop it trims up fine.is it maybe low on oil?
It could be that you need a rebuild. Water probably got into the electrical area and did some damage to the brushes. Try checking the oil to make sure it is not white and try tapping the motor to see if it will work.
after that, uncap it and allow it to stand about 15 more minutes to allow any air or air bubbles in the oil to escape. fill to top and screw back on.
I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe they are pretty much the same. They work pretty much the same way. The screws might be located in a different spot though.
Aren't they self bleeding systems?
My manual tilt screw is threaded can yous please help?what do I do?
Have you tried turning it with an oversized flat head screw driver? It only needs to turn maybe 1 full turn for it to work. (Do not try to remove the screw)
Any way to fill the unit once its stuck on the down position??
The trim and tilt is two systems. the first is the trim, it has two pistons that raise your engine only slightly, then the tilt which is made to raise it completely for transport. the engine when under a load will not stay in the tilt position, it will lower to the trim where it should stay unless you trim it any lower. the engine after a certain RPM will usually not allow you to raise it. basically your engine will/should not run on the tilt shaft only as it cannot hold the load.
Good video bro well done
Okay, i have a 2003 mercury 175 optimax. i tried to completly change all the fluid by taking the plug out at the bottom of the trim. now that ive refilled it i cannot get the air out. everytime i lower it without the cap...i lose a crap load of fluid out the hole, then it makes a god awful noises going back up.(because it lost a ton of fluid) can you help???
Thanks! Very Informative!
Thank you My friend i will try now!!
God bless you!!
Great video buddy.
What about the middle cylinder? ????
After i fill it and i move the motor down it all flushes out the top, is this normal?
Yes. If you are trying to purge it and get air out. If not fill it up with fluid. Screw back on the cap. Run it up & down a few times. Unscrew cap and refill. If you feel like there is still air. (Making a grinding noise) run it up and down a few more times and remove cap, refill, recap. Run up and down. Let sit, uncap, refill.
I'm changing the T&T fluid on my 93 60hp Merc , It's mounted on a pontoon boat and no matter how far I drop the nose the T&T mechanism will not sit level , Any suggestions on how to get it level ?
Hey thanks for watching, if there is no way to completely get it level try putting a brick or 2x4 under each tire and then slowly drivin the trailer onto them. This should raise the back end up about 2 inches, hopefully you can now get the tongue low enough to level your T&T.
If that doesn't work out, try over filling the reservoir a it and then quickly get the cap screwed in. Kind of how it would be done on a lower unit oil change.
hey I tried to do the same steps as you did but the trim stopped halfway. Now it wouldn't go up nor down. and there isn't enough room to refill into the fill hole. What to do? help please. Thanks
if the fluid is too low or it has too much air, it will do what you are describing. Hopefully by now you were able to correct it but if not, here is a link to manually lift or lower your outboard. by manually lifting it you will be able to add fluid into the reservoir. Goodluck
ua-cam.com/video/pWiE3a2vUlw/v-deo.html
Fantastic
That was very helpful. Thanks buddy!!
question 4 u buddy,,i have a 1997 mariner 90hp 2stroke motor, would u say a propeller thats 13,25x19 will work well for my motor?..thank you
As far as a prop. I wouldnt really be able to tell you. However you can go to www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/prop-selector/# and that will help you out with the proper size prop you need.
Hey bud, There is more to that than just a one size fits all. Everything from type of boat to the weight of the boat comes into play. I suggest going to www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/prop-selector/ to dial in on a relatively good prop for your needs
If this is the case because you powerload your boat onto your trailer, this is normal. The trim and tilt is two systems. the first is the trim, it has two pistons that raise your engine only slightly, then the tilt which is made to raise it completely for transport. the engine when under a load will not stay in the tilt position, it will lower to the trim where it should stay unless you trim it any lower. read comment above as it might help you as well. but seems like its normal.
my trim and tilt went down and didn't come back up. I hear the relay clicking but no sound from the motor. is the motor broken or do I just have to add more liquid?
thanks in advance
Chan Fe if you hear the clicking then the relay is getting power. Next thing I'd check is to make sure that the actual trim motor is receiving the power. Many times especially in saltwater the connections will corrode. If the cable to the trim motor has power and the trim motor isn't operating the trim motor has failed. They are usually pretty easy to replace by removing 2-4screws and swapping with a new one.
thank you, it turned out to be a loose wire harness from the blue and green wire.
This is an old video but I hope someone can respond soon.
I just bought me a boat and the trim runs but sometimes doesn't move.
At the moment it's on the trailer and all the way up but it won't come back down
If you hear the trim motor running but the engine is not moving up or down. it is low on fluid. when it is raised all the way up, it will sometimes stay stuck in this position due to lack of fluid.
if you need to bring the engine down or up in the case of an emergency, ua-cam.com/video/pWiE3a2vUlw/v-deo.html
@@ReelTeaseFishing thank you. I just filled it with ATF, one straw full at a time. WOW what a mess. But that was it. It's traveling up and down as it should now.
I did the same thing to my pallet jack but I just didn't make the connection.
Very grateful
@@310sbell great to hear! Glad your trim and tilt is back to normal 👍🏽
How could water get into the trim and tilt fluid? Would it be a seal?
Yes, there is a ton of seals that seal up the trim/tilt cylinders. The seals are basically just a bunch of orings. They can be a real pain to get to especially if you have a saltwater motor. The first place to check is the fill seal where you put oil in. The next thing you should check is to see if there is any oil on the tilt/trim rods (the shiny metal rods). If there is excess oil on these or leaking around the base of the rods, the wiper seals need to be replaced.
are you putting in grease or oil
TRIM AND TILT FLUID. (oil)
I think its your down relay. The relay switches go bad and this is mainly what happens. if you dont hear the trim and tilt running then its most likely that.
my tilt switch clicks when I push it but the motor no longer moves. Is that an indication that I may need to add fluid or another problem altogether. (Note: it "clicks" both I push the throttle switch and the motor switch as well.). Thanks!
Steven Kent Nelson normally there are two tilt switch locations one at motor other at throttle. Does it click at both locations and not move? if yes may have issue. If one switch works and other doesn't as I've had same issue. Contact cleaner on non working switch brought mine back to work.
Thanks Randy, much appreciated! I hit it with some WD-40, tapped it a few times with a screwdriver, and got it working. Thanks again for your help..!
ii got a johnson motor wath type of fluid do i put & its a 110 2stroke motor
OMC Power Tilt/Trim & Power Steering Fluid, or Dexron II automatic transmission fluid.
can I overfill the unit by putting in to much oil
my switch will not raise or lower tilt or trim r they any way to raise up a 50 hp mercury lower unit
i got a question..... on my 1995 mercury the t&t motor runs in both raise and lower positions but wont raise my engine.....and suggestions? thanks
put fluid in. Mine was doing the same. Put fluid in and it works great. DO NOT burn up the pump running it a lot empty.
Thanks for your reply......i have added transmission fluid till it runs out, but still wont raise engine....??
hi i filled with trim oil and got stuck on up position any idea?
when i took skew out nothing comes out not sure what to put in there
Trim and tilt fluid
very helpful, thank you!!
I just read in a comment section where some Johnson manuals say you can use dexron 2 in place of hydraulic fluid,can anyone shed any light on this? Great video by the way.
+kenny baird Transmission fluid is not 90W GEAR OIL.I had a childhood friend now deceased named JIM BAIRD. From Phila, Pa.R U Related?
I don't know,my dad was from Kentucky and i don't think they use 90w gear oil as trim fluid.
+kenny baird , Hydraulic fluid goes in the tilt and trim, not 90 wt gear oil. My Yamaha 150 manual says, "A high grade automatic transmission fluid, Dexron II may be used if Yamalube fluid is not available."
mudcat72 Did i EVER sat that 90wt was the same thing????
+kenny baird Of course not. I haven't said that you did. 90 wt oil doesn't belong in the discussion. I have no idea why Arthur mentions it unless he believes 90 wt oil goes in the tilt and trim. Sorry, I was was trying to clear up things by offering what my manual says. So that's two brands of outboard manufacturers manuals that say dexron II is good to go.
I bought my transmission fluid to refill it last night.
If I don't have hydraulic fluid can I use automatic transmission fluid?
ATf Fluid is fine.
Yes, ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) is hydraulic oil with extra additives. It's cheap too so that's good.
randy my 2008 etec 150 jumps and stutters on way down...I will be doing the new fluid this weekend, do you think it will fix the issue?
Hard to tell but it's definitely a good place to start for the money. Good luck!
Thank you. This helped
Good afternoon I have a outboard Evinrude and the engine doesn't want to go up or down on me any suggestions. Thank you
Make sure there is power getting to the switch. use a multimeter or a test light to make sure.
second thing do you hear a click sound when you hit the switch for up or down? if you hear a click sound it may be the relay.
@@ReelTeaseFishing it's the motor from the Trim and tilt.
if it goes up but very slow or rough it may be because of the oil. drain the oil and refill using the method above. Too little oil and it wont be able to lift the engine properly. (which sounds like your problem)
Very helpful
Glad it helped, thanks for watching