How to Fill a Tilt-Trim Outboard Motor

A breif guide on how to fill a tilt-trim outboard motor

[@10EyeSee]

I know this is an old video but it helped me out A LOT today!

[@danielsaenz5663]

You just saved me I have a do 175 and the cylinder was stuck or something and once I unlocked that screw it dropped down and then the pump started pumping oil again. I just kept raising and driving like you said while topping off the oil it worked great.

[@JasonLefevers]

Great to hear

[@patmcg1681]

Thanks for the video, I couldn’t have done this job without it. It’s very well put together with detailed description of the steps taken. I especially appreciated the explanation of the different types of fluids that can be used.

[@wazup3333]

everyone does it differently though and im having issues. Other guy said to leave the screw open and lift it up and down few times then screw back the screw and lift and lower it again a few times

[@dondeyoung3143]

Now that I know where to look, it appears simple. Thanks for recording this.

[@TravisInCanada1]

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

[@andybowlin]

Thanks for making this video!!! I think this is my same problem!! Hear it wanting to work but not moving- ordered some fluid- hope it works -

[@Bassin_withaustin]

Question did it fix the issue gonna try tomorrow

[@andybowlin]

INSTA austin_01 silverado yes it worked for me. When i bought motor I had it on its side for too long in back of truck. Refilled and worked fine again

[@jamieschallock6553]

Thanks! New to this type of set up and this video saved me a repair visit! Thanks!

[@brothercode2488]

Damn I needed this video..you just saved me a lot of money

[@JasonLefevers]

brother code Cool, good to hear.

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

Thanks, I used a syringe with no needle, easy as, the bugger took 120ml of fluid. The I raised it up and down a few time and topped it up.

[@Berkner80]

Great video, thanks so much! Really helpful, especially for me cause I am just learning about my used boat and don't know much about things like this. Trying to get my tilt/trim working now. I have let it sit up for years but the motor and tilt/trim did work when I bought it.

[@bretleysfilm4078]

Same man have you figured it out?

[@juju1896]

Great video, thank you!

[@alanfox4055]

Thanks for your video. I need to do mine so looked in my owners and service manual but they were not as helpful or straight forward as your video so good job and thanks again.

[@JasonLefevers]

Alan Fox Thanks for watching.

[@gioscervelo]

Nicely done

[@nickvergin]

Thanks for the helpful video!

[@MarkJeffreyMay]

Helped me thanks man

[@rayaudia6633]

Thanks good video

[@cindycrandall1327]

I have a non electric manual hydraulic lift/lower. It will not raise or lower. Any help would be appreciated.

[@MuhammadNurFitri-k4v]

Can i ask, is it can use any type of ATF fluid? Is it can use car atf fluid?

[@SoLDMG]

A good guess would be Dexron ATF.

[@bull5919]

WHAT IS A GOOD HYDRAULIC FLUID TO GET

[@martinhuehner8646]

Thanks - great video and explanations.

[@anthonyhill3771]

I have no idea if it had hydraulic or transmission fluid prior. Will it hurt if I went transmission fluid?

[@bradcranford2264]

Great job. I thought it would be way more complicated than that.

[@rdgurule]

So you turned the bleeder valve that was on the right side. Did your other fill and raise procedure. You didn’t turn the bleeder back to the right afterwards. Did I miss something?

[@motorv8N]

That valve needs to be closed (turned back to the right) after the first fill up so the system can function. He just didn't show it on camera.

[@victorbaltov1808]

@@motorv8N That step is essential, re-tightening the relief valve -- wasted fluid , time and energy otherwise.

[@CNArea51]

Thank You

[@randomfandom53]

What would happen if I have the tan milky substance (hydraulic oil/fluid) in there and I want to replace it with the more viscous Dextron 3? Also, is there a difference between hyrdaulic fluid and hydraulic oil.. if the latter is even a thing? It just seems like hydraulic fluid is so thin... but if I need to use it instead of the dextron.. I will...

[@wazup3333]

water got in because your seals are bad. you can try but it may not work the interior parts could be corroding

[@jpl3622]

agree with wazup. you have water in the trim/tilt system. Plenty of videos on removing caps. evacuating existing fluid and replacing seals and o-rings. Also, trim/tilt fluid is usually hydraulic fluid with additives to help in marine applications. Be sure to follow your manufacturer recommendations on fluid type.

[@TheWisconsinTrapper]

Thanks really helped me out

[@telmoseriuvi9425]

Hi I messed Up the head of the scroll that lift and lower the motor. Know I can't turn off. Do you have any suggestions. Thanks.

[@marcoguerrero4090]

My motor don't want to move up even down do you how can a fix that problem?

[@tastingerscarpetone6304]

Thanks great video

[@Akhazmat907]

Mine is different, I have a mercuser 165 power trim attached to a inboard. Can't find where to fill it anywhere

[@richardsatterfield4222]

Where u get that pump

[@JasonLefevers]

Orally AUTO PARTS

[@spearageddon3279]

very helpful video, thank you!! :)

[@davidfitzgerald1116]

i drained power trim on my 98 mercury 25hp elpt four stroke . Can I replace fluid with Sea Star Hydraulic Steering Fluid ? The salesman @ west marine said " duh ,I think so". They were out of Quick Silver Power Trim and Steering fluid.

[@stevesaal2082]

Very informative. My question however is, does the original factory fluid eventually get used up or evaporate, etc? I see no visible fluid leaks in any of my 2004 Yamaha 70 hp outboard seals. The fluid has never been changed or any fluid ever added. The only issue I think I may have is that if the motor is stored overnight in a slightly raised position (25% tilted up), by morning the motor has lowered and settled down into the vertical run position. Is that normal to happen? Or a sign I need fluid added?

[@stevesaal2082]

I should have added to clarify my above question, the power tilt and trim works fine otherwise.

[@jimmyjames7667]

The oil/fluid not only drives the ram but also lubricates the seals and ram, fluid will be naturally depleted in this process. Your leg should have a lever to lock it in the lifted position. After engaging the lock let the leg down slightly to engage the lock and take the pressure off the ram. This will lengthen the life of the seals, and slow fluid loss.

[@juju1896]

@@jimmyjames7667 very helpful, thank you!

[@TheDaddyT]

Great vid, Quick question. On a 125 outboard force motor. Do you happen to know why my trim motor is making a loud noise once it's red positive line is simply touching my battery . Even before I have touched the trim toggle switch . It's making the same noice as if im touching the switch even when I am not touching the switch ? I'd greatly appreciate any feedback you can provide! Thank you so much for your help 😊

[@prettygirlus9008]

The trim on my 40HP Honda goes up and down, but when trimmed up it slowly goes down. Any ideas?

[@raylarivere5997]

Thanks that's what I needed to no

[@kenmoses8]

So what happens after about the 1000x?. I can hear the trim... nothing. I have filled, lifted the motor manually up every single time (insanity began after 10)... keep getting air and foam spitting out. But no lift up or down.

[@theiastcowboy]

You may have a leaking seal. You can call a local hydraulic place to put new seals in or do it yourself. There are kits on Ebay and Amazon, just make sure you get the right one for your tilt and trim

[@cyrusdavirus007]

my tilt fluid is grey. I want to siphon it out and replace but I am worried I will end up using Dex 2 and it will have left over hydralic. I don't know what is in there now.

[@dougdougv]

Great video. Have a Mercury outboard slowly (say an hour or two) goes down from engine up/out to down/submurged. Up/down using motor are fine, but the motor will receed into the down position overnight. Any ideas on why this would happen and possible fix(es)?

[@JasonLefevers]

Check your manual release screw and make sure it’s completely tight. Otherwise, it sounds like there could be an air/fluid leak in the hydraulic system.

[@dougdougv]

@@JasonLefevers Thanks, I'll check the manual release screw's tightness. Cheers!

[@dorothyfishbook6155]

Any idea why my tilt is so slow moving. I had the seals replaced and I think I've put enough hydraulic fluid in. The tilt moves up and down but slow as molasses. Any ideas?

[@johnchiovarou1531]

Thanks, It helped me

[@dillardwinters4882]

A liquid can't be compressed only a gas , as in air can be compressed. Pressure is produced by pumping liguid.

[@FloridaHardwood]

I have a 96 Johnson 112 . Trim Always worked fine. Few days ago went to trim up.. nothing. But it will trim down perfectly. Had to open relief valve to lower it. I was thinking maybe a relay issue.. is it possible low fluid could be my problem? . I haven't tried to fix it yet

[@JasonLefevers]

I've had a motor with the same issue. Likely low fluid. It takes a lot more pressure to trim a heavy motor up than down. Gravity alone helps the motor to trim down, but trimming it up it more difficult. I would definitely check the fluid levels.

[@wazup3333]

@@JasonLefevers why do other people do it differently? Another video of a mercury the guy lifted and lowered the engine few times with the fill cap unscrewed to let air out, then screwed it back and repeated the process few times

[@michelemiller694]

Will this be the same process for a 2002 Evinrude motor? The motor is going but the motor is barely going up and down. Thanks.

[@2olvets443]

Good video, if you were that low you have a leak. Hope you took care of the leak so as not to pollute the waters.

[@chickalanai]

AT what point did you tighten back up the manual relief valve on the side of the system?

[@JasonLefevers]

chickalanai As soon as you let it down you can tighten it back up.

[@bigdaddy7415]

So the first time when you trim it down is when you tighten the manual release?

[@motorv8N]

Kyle S - as soon as you want to use the tilt system hydraulics you need to close that valve. So...if your motor is stuck in the down position, open the valve, manually lift the engine up so you can get at the reservoir, close the valve, fill the unit with fluid and try the hydraulics.

[@bigdaddy7415]

Mine seems to trim up some at speed but is it normal that it wont allow trim up at over 5mph

[@dexterrussian14]

thanks

[@troyh2929]

If you need to just add that much, ok hope you don’t have a leak. Before filling u would replace the seals first.

[@jjones9290]

Where did you get that thread in adapter?

[@JasonLefevers]

It came with the pump.

[@h.leejohnson1494]

I didn't see a rubber washer on the screw going into the motor !

[@theiastcowboy]

probably the reason the system was low in the first place. LOL

[@saelee33]

How did you level it?

[@JasonLefevers]

Sirlee Outdoorsmen by adjusting my trailer jack stand up and down.

[@saelee33]

@@JasonLefevers can you do a video on that please

[@derrickthomas4613]

Man, instead of cranking your trailer jack up, crank it down to level the boat... pretty straight forward. Instead of cranking it clockwise to raise it, crank it counter clockwise to lower it. lol

[@saelee33]

@@derrickthomas4613 lol.

[@samtate1260]

Can I use dot 3 brake fluid what ever is in there is clear but it is oil hydraulic or brake fluid I don’t know

[@BillSmith-ut5li]

Alert this system is a closed system. You should not have to fill this system. If It's low then you should look for the leak and repair it

[@bee2333]

😂you sound like MIchael Cera

[@dereksuperstrong1210]

Why are you wiping it off you just have to put more in there you’re wasting time not a good video

[@rockittt28]

dude get to the point

[@JasonLefevers]

Dude, go make your own video and do whatever you want.

[@telmoseriuvi9425]

The video was great. Thank you.

[@Dlombardii29]

Thank you great video