How to (Maybe) Fix your Trim Motor not Moving your Outboard Motor!

[@DanRichardFishing]

Hey guys just a note on this video that I think is really important - One of the viewers made a great comment about how important it is to make sure your boat is not leaking engine or component fluids in to our waterways, and this is very true. The purpose of this video is obviously to help diagnose a possibly easy fix with your trim, and using Hydraulic booster to try and stop the leak (which is did for me). If your boat trim cylinder is toast and you're having to constantly fill the oil even with the booster, then it's important you take the necessary steps to repair the problem, just like you would if you were leaking gas or engine oil. Thanks!

[@keithhumfleet5458]

I was going to say stay off the waterways if your spilling anyboil

[@mrdouble]

Unlike most KZbin self help videos. This was great. Thanks

[@peterbaldwin2828]

Shade tree mechanic is so grateful! ALWAYS begin with the simplest repair/ diagnosis. I bought a new motor but will return. Thanks a million or about $95.00 to be exact

[@DanRichardFishing]

Haha my pleasure :)

[@earlzach]

I did just as you described on my 96 Mercury 90HP. Travels all the way up now and fast!!! Thank you. Too easy!!

[@DanRichardFishing]

Awesome, I'm glad the video helped!! And yes, it's super easy to do :)

[@earlzach]

I just added another tablespoon after 2 years.

[@brocpickett4891]

Thanks alot man, you just saved me a trip to the shop today! I actually didnt even have to add fluid it just needed pressure released and it works like new again!

[@DanRichardFishing]

Amazing, glad I could help!!

[@Yourfavannabell]

Thank you for YOUR reply as it saved us a trip to the shop today!!

[@busybody8364]

I appreciate you bro...my motor was working but the outboard was not moving.. manage to gain access to the fluid screw, removed it, added some tilt trim fluid, and now she's up and down like a seesaw! 👍🏽💪🏽

[@stevenwoessner4680]

Got my toon all cleaned up, motor running, tell tale peeing strong, ready to sell and the trim is doing exactly what yours is. Noooo! I hope this works. Going to try Tommorow. Great video!

[@DanRichardFishing]

Did it work?!

[@jonathanbaker4535]

Glad this popped up. I’ve noticed my trim on my new(used) boat has been a bit sluggish lately. I’ll def check the fluid.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Hope that's all it is!

[@shannydan]

Spot on vid! Helped a ton with my 40hp Evinrude that wouldn't lift properly. LOVE the oil can idea... glad I found your vid..thanks!

[@DanRichardFishing]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@CT-gc1ck]

I've watched your other videos on your Garmin units and enjoy your content. Thank you and I hope you continue your good work, man.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Thank you so much CT! To be honest I have been a slacker this year on videos but I will be getting back in to it very soon!

[@CT-gc1ck]

@@DanRichardFishing beggers aren't choosers man your content is much appreciated.

[@sbarick]

This was helpful. Thanks for getting me back on water quick and cheap

[@DanRichardFishing]

Awesome I'm glad to hear it was helpful and you're back on the water! Thanks for dropping a comment :)

[@sofakingoutdoorz272]

Awesome!!!! Thanks for the simple to the point delivery. Got me back on the water today. Confirming my train of thought. You rock bro!!

[@allenhughes12]

Thanks for this info. I may wind up having a great summer after all.

[@TD-er3gi]

Love the short to the point video!! all I needed, UDaMan...Thanks!

[@Zed483]

Great Vid. Only i would ad is to take the motor up higher then the travel support, up as high as it will go until it stops. Ive always topped mine up and it was never 100% until i took it up further and got a bit more in 👍🏻. I must try that additive to stop the leak 😎

[@jp040759]

I rebuilt my tilt and trim with a seal kit. Kit was $90. The only other expense was I had to buy a pin wrench to disassemble the cylinder. I could not barrow one from my group of friends. Nobody had one The wrench was another $80. Between parts and labor I save over $2000 by doing it myself. The dealer said they would not rebuild the old one they only wanted to install a new one. 23 seals had to be replaced. Took some time but it was worth it.

[@DanRichardFishing]

This is exactly what I wanted to do but they do not sell the kit for this trim. 😭

[@jp040759]

@@DanRichardFishing AWHHHHHH That sux. Maybe its just leaking from that beat up plug???

[@coltontotty8317]

Saved me time and money I’ve been looking for this video! Thank you

[@DanRichardFishing]

You're very welcome!!

[@UrbanFisherman]

Very helpful video 📹. Thanks 👍🏾

[@DanRichardFishing]

You're very welcome, thank you so much for watching!

[@RickJohnsonRicksCarpentry]

O man thank you that's what it was I fixed it in 20 min.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Awesome!!

[@swaaqbabehh]

IT WORKED THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@DanRichardFishing]

You're very welcome!

[@luaaianae1078]

Wow that's the exact problem I have thanks for sharing mate👍👋

[@DanRichardFishing]

No worries, glad to help!

[@gpeterkin18]

Hi Dan Love the video. I have a 40HP Mercury outboard new in 2005. Trim motor only goes half way down but goes all the way up. I'm going to try and check the fluid. One question. Can I do this with the boat in the water. The boat is a 20ft. Pontoon and a pain to get out of the water. I answered the question Dan. Yes you can do it in water however do it near shoreline and have people stand in the front to level off the boat. Boat has to be level to check oil level. With that being said once I got in the water I realized what the problem was, the safety bolt to hold the motor from falling on you was engaged and hence the motor would only go down a little bit. Lessons learned

[@DanRichardFishing]

Hi there, haha sounds you answered all your questions! I was going to say for filling on the water, it depends if you can get at the cap and try and put some weight on the bow. So you got that done, and for the down you did exactly what I would suggest, check if the safety latch was not sticking out. Way to get it done! :)

[@emmanouillydakakis2245]

Thanks for the tip .

[@DanRichardFishing]

You bet!

[@jjones9290]

You can have a cylinder rebuilt or custom made my friend! May even be able to use cylinder for another outboard system with adapters! Good luck!

[@DanRichardFishing]

So far I have not been able to find anyone to rebuild this one and the seal kits are no longer available. It's proven to be a pain in the ass so far :/

[@ronpassmore7053]

Nicely done bro. Thank you!

[@Michael-ts7nq]

Thanks dude, just what I needed.......Eaasttt Cooaassttt

[@HenryPF]

I don't know if this will solve my issue, but it is a great starting point, thanks!

[@DanRichardFishing]

Good luck and please let me know if it works!

[@teddymello9354]

Mine was sticking on running my battery down and only worked a couple times is that the same thing?

[@nickward7079]

This is the best video on this

[@DanRichardFishing]

Thank you Nick!

[@welcome79820]

Good job

[@DanRichardFishing]

Thanks!

[@nathanemslie9071]

Cheers mate,solid info

[@ChrisD-kl3ty]

Thanks What I needed

[@TheMystro1971]

Excellent. I use a big medical type syringe.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Oh nice!! That's work, and you get to feel like a mad doctor!

[@jlmckenna10]

Great video. Thanks

[@JamesAlbritton-cl8ob]

What do you do when your done and it still don't go down

[@lukecunningham7557]

Hey man I have the same trim motor and actuator. Just letting you know you definitely can change the internal seals on the piston and the motor. I just did it earlier this year. Cost about 40$ for all the seals total

[@DanRichardFishing]

I had a couple of people tell me that, but the seal kit for my exact model has been discontinued for years and I couldn't find them anywhere online. On top of that, by the time the cylinder is in need of a seal change, there's a good chance your ram cap is warped and needs replacing anyway. And to top it all off, I couldn't find any local hydraulic shops in town that would touch it and I didn't want to tear in to it myself.

[@kimmunk6340]

I have a question! My trim motor makes a noise and will put the motor down, however it makes no noise except for a slight clicking sound and the motor doesn’t move up? Any suggestions?

[@shinobifitz7593]

Fix the leak or pollute oil into my favorite lake? Cmon man, you’re setting an example for people. Don’t lead them to thinking polluting oil into the lake is cool

[@DanRichardFishing]

That's a very fair point, obviously if your trim or any other parts of your boat are leaking fluids and you need to constantly be topping it up, it needs to be fixed. In my case, the trim was leaking about 2 teaspoons every 6 months, so that's less than 1 drop a day. I am happy to report that the Lucas Oil booster that I recommended in the video completely stopped the leaking on my trim, so no more issues on my trim finally. Either way, you're absolutely right and your boat should always be in the best condition possible to avoid fluids from leaking in to the waterways, thank you for bringing this up.

[@huntercoleman4302]

You do know carbon and Burnt fuel goes in the water from millions of boats a day right…

[@madtrees4ya]

That’s a great video. Mines doing the same thing, not leaking but randomly won’t trim up also don’t you have to trim it up and down a few times to get any air out?

[@DanRichardFishing]

Thanks so much! What I like to do is once I fill it and put the cap back up, I'll lower it all the way down and back up once... if I hear any hesitation in the engine, I'll leave it up and open the cap, add a bit more and cap it back up. Should be good from there.

[@suzy2100]

Hey motor will not stay trimmed up when I accelerate it will trim its self down on its own. It can’t hold its self when under acceleration. Any ideas???

[@stoweman34]

When you’re fishing, Could you be sucking water into the pump from where it’s leaking, when your trimming your motor?

[@DanRichardFishing]

No, the pressure in the cylinder and the oil all around the seals keeps the water out.

[@mrzonrisa]

Muchas gracias .

[@DanRichardFishing]

¡De nada y gracias por suscribirse!

[@calichemorales]

The screw to relased the pressure is damaged and can't get it to turn. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Get yourself a replacement so you have it on hand and use some vicegrips to unscrew the old one off. The vicegrips will chew it up a a bit but you should be able to remove it.

[@horacelee880]

Great Video Dan. My engine will not trim up or down even though the Motor is making the trim sound. After I turn the nylon release screw and get the engine up and locked into position, & add fluid to the reservoir, close the reservoir fill screw do I need to close the release screw before I let the engine down again or leave it open.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Thank you Horace! You can go ahead and close it and then run your trim after filling it up :) Good luck!

[@horacelee880]

@@DanRichardFishing I did exactly that ,pressed the trim button and I got the WHrr Whrr Whrr but it still didn`t go up ! I put plenty of fluid into reservoir even checked for leaking while trying to trim it but still nothing..

[@jbkahl]

@@horacelee880Horace did you ever diagnose what the issue was with your trim tilt issue and find an answer

[@horacelee880]

Yes sir! It was a wiring issue

[@jeffarmacost1178]

where was the wiring problem located? @@horacelee880

[@kylebarcomb6192]

I have to do the same i wasnt sure what fluid to use

[@ottocornett1151]

I’ll check the oil but on my outboard 150 merc it goes up and down but if you put it down enough to put it on plane then it won’t go back up using the throttle/gear shift switch but it will if you use the switch on the motor.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Does the motor engage at all when you use the gear shift trim switch?

[@ottocornett1151]

@@DanRichardFishing my motor stays on but it doesn’t make the trim buzzing noise. I think it’s probably a problem in the switch

[@DanRichardFishing]

Yes definitely the switch, check your ground connection for the switch and then check the power, you'll have a separate wire for up and down.

[@kwaks1979]

Ours will go up but not down. Any ideas????

[@DanRichardFishing]

Sounds like you have a bad switch. Check the wiring and you can test the switch to see if it's sending power to the trim when you hit the down button. Good luck!

[@keithjohnson4803]

Can I keep my motor trimmed down and add oil? I only ask because it's already in the water on a lift for the summer. The motor only trims up about 4 inches.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Sure, you should be able to access the nylon cap even with it trimmed down and if you have a bendy neck oil can like I have, it's very easy!

[@Whalermansteve84]

I have a 2009 50 mercury 2 stroke and mine is stuck in the down position.. it on the top hole where that long pin goes into. I’ve tried everything I cold think of. I’m afraid to trailer it to the shop because I don’t wanna hit a speed bump and mess up my lower unit

[@stevecasey2692]

What atf fluid did you use and was it synthetic

[@SETH0341]

Dan question sir. I have a 90hp Mercury 4 stroke. My trim goes up and down. No issues. I top off my trim oil. When the boat underway and I trim the motor up to max RPM. It goes up high enough but not max and it losing pressure I think causing the motor to lower couple inches back down. What would be the issue???

[@walterdowns9012]

My mercruiser inboard slowly comes down is there a leak or is it low on oil but it does come up all the way

[@DanRichardFishing]

Sounds like your manual pressure release valve is slowly leaking and needs to be tightened or replaced. Give that a look!

[@steerheadcattle]

Mine trims up and down fine but it won’t hold the up trim when full throttle going down the lake! Any suggestions?

[@DanRichardFishing]

Check that your manual release valve is properly closed, it may be slightly leaking when under the pressure of the boat moving and it's pushing down. It may also need replacement.

[@Rattletrapfishing]

great video

[@DanRichardFishing]

Thanks guys!!

[@Rattletrapfishing]

Dan Richard Fishing your welcome

[@philtarbox8256]

Hey Dan, have you tried using a seal conditioner to see if it would stop your leak? I would first check with Mercury to see if this would be a plausible idea, but maybe it could be at least a temp fix

[@DanRichardFishing]

I'm going to try some Lucas Oil hydraulic booster and leak seal oil the next time I fill it to see if that helps :)

[@juju1896]

@@DanRichardFishing did it help?

[@stefannorgren77]

The sound it makes, is that normal? My motor does the same, but my friends is much more quiet.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Totally normal. Some are just louder than others. As long as you don't have a grinding sound and the motor whine is a steady consistent sound as it moves up and down you're good :)

[@FaithisKey792]

How would I do that on a 5.7 Volvo penta. Ive noticed the trim Tilt just got slower than usual. Specially going up. It’s a 2010

[@DanRichardFishing]

Hi Luis, sorry I'm afraid I am not familiar with that type of engine, that's an inboard I assume. Might want to take it to a marine mechanic and have them show you, or take photos and post it on www.thehulltruth.com and someone there for sure could help you out :)

[@carolec4970]

Hey Dan thank you for your videos. I replaced my propeller with a Stainless Steel prop (I broke the original alum prop by hitting something going at a low speed). My first ride with the new prop I noticed I couldn't lift the motor with the trim while moving. I had to slow the boat and trim up and it would work. I don't see any leaks. Do you Ave any advice?

[@penstar]

Nice video. I have a 1987 35 hp Mercury with older style trim tilt. It has the main ram for titing up and down which moves okay. But the two lower trim rams dont move at all. Can't see any leaks and oil is topped up. Any ideas?

[@DanRichardFishing]

I'm not familiar with that trim to be honest, send me a DM on Facebook with a photo and I'll check it out :) Look me up on FB under Dan Richard Fishing.

[@patrickmcbride4022]

So the Trim works on my boat but as soon as you give it throttle the trim goes all the way down you can’t control it after that I don’t know what it is

[@DanRichardFishing]

Does the trim motor actually engage or is it just being forced down as though your hydraulics can't hold it in place?

[@randynieusma3862]

Dan, I've got a Merc 75 hp 4 stroke that does not trim/tilt full stroke, does the trim sender orientation change or limit travel distance? I'm not finding any info on proper side to face the engine. I just received a new sender that is* correct for my engine serial # and will be installing as soon as I can pull the boat out of the water. I'd like to be able to tilt the engine at the dock so the lower unit clears the water. any info would be appreciated. Randy

[@moose-sb3ce]

Hey Dan. my merc 60 hp will randomly raise up and wont go down. The trim engine also seemed to be stuck and would not turn off till I disconnected at the relay switch. To fix immediate problem, I switched the blue and green wires to the relays to allow the motor go down so I could get back to the dock. So, I replaced the two relays-but the problem persists! Can you help me figure out what I am missing?

[@DanRichardFishing]

Sounds like a loose connection at the trim switch or the switch itself, have you tried replacing the switch? You could even put in a 12v switch temporarily to see if the built in one on the side of the motor is the issue.

[@cottonfishco.8387]

You're going to want to replace the switch for this issue. I had the same issue with the switch in the back - any vibrations on the back deck would trigger it and it would want to raise up. I'd jiggle the switch and it would stop.

[@darenthomas7736]

I have a ‘99 Johnson 90 HP and installed new relays and switch and can hear the power going to motor when I try to trim up but nothing when I try to trim down. Any suggestions?

[@DanRichardFishing]

Are you sure you have a solid ground and did you test the positive wire at the motor to see if you're getting voltage when you hit the trim down switch? A few people have mentioned this issue and it was a ground problem.

[@danielrichardson8791]

I just ordered the new motor ARCO 6276 for $280 and fixed my self . Who quoted you 1500?

[@DanRichardFishing]

I'm not sure what model that is but the direct Mercury replacement for my power trim model is anywhere between $800 - $1000 CAD new plus installation plus tax. Is the Arco model you're quoting a direct replacement for the Merc? I'll have to check it out if it is, you're the first person to mention it to me!

[@DanRichardFishing]

OK I looked at your part, this is not the same and doesn't work with my application. The motor on my trim is fine, it's the cylinder, but you can't buy them separate and you have to buy the entire thing. For example: www.ebay.ca/itm/Mercury-Quicksilver-Boat-Power-Trim-Assembly-893518T01-30-40-EFI/143642082913?epid=1522958883&hash=item2171bc3e61%3Ag%3AbxMAAOSwygte9f%7EK&LH_ItemCondition=1000

[@jeffreyconn9491]

What is that white paste holding the bottom mounting bracket bolts called in this video?

[@DanRichardFishing]

That's actually Marine sealant it's like caulking. When you touch it, it's dry and rubbery feeling, I believe it's a polyurethane based product. Google Marine adhesive sealant and you'll see it, it comes in a tube.

[@yusmanigarcia1016]

Probably 5200 marine sealant

[@natedkauffman]

Can anyone tell me why my power trim goes up and down fine. But it cant hold my weight up if I bear hug my motor while up it drop. 160lbs

[@DanRichardFishing]

The important question here is why are you bear hugging your motor while trimming it?? 😂

[@timr1999]

Im trying to trouble shoot my outboard on a 2018 21 center console. The motor is trimmed down all the way but seems like the prop is coming out of water and making it work hard. And any slight trim up the prop will come out which is not normal. Any thoughts? Also seems sluggish coming up and down

[@DanRichardFishing]

Whoa ok so just want to confirm what's happening here. So your motor is trimmed all the way down and when you give it gas to move forward, the motor is lifting up and the prop is coming out of the water? Or do you mean even when the motor is trimmed down, the prop is barely in the water? If so, this might sound silly but do you have a jack plate and is it positioned all the way down? Is this a boat that's new to you?

[@conventlam8196]

question..so my motor is only screaming when its going up..but when i trim it down or move it down it doesn't make a sound? would you have an idea on what that might be?

[@DanRichardFishing]

OK so just to be clear, it doesn't make any noise or move when you try to trim down, but it works fine when you trim up? That sounds 100% like you've got a bad trim relay. The relays are usually located under the cowl, check your engine book for their exact location. There will be two of them. First check there are no loose wires going to the relays, and then switch them around. If suddenly it goes down no problem but won't go back up, you know you've got a bad relay and just need to replace that part. Good luck!!

[@stevekenbeek7823]

I have a 2006 merc optimax 150. the trim and tilt system works great except there's no indication on my dash gauge. I looked the trim mechanism system over with the motor all the way up sitting on the kick stand. everything looks ok. no excessive corrosion, no broken brackets or loose wires. any suggestions for troubleshooting. the gauge looks ok too. i checked the plug to the gauge behind the consol, didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Jason Macklem

[@DanRichardFishing]

You might want to run through all the trim electricals with a continuity tester and make sure you don't have any faulty wiring or connectors anywhere. If that all checks out, it could be your trim sender (trim position sensor) is toast. If it's none of those issues, it's out of my scope unfortunately and you would have to get a marine mechanic to take a look. If you get a chance and you figure it out, please update me, would love to know what it was!

[@stevekenbeek7823]

it was the trim position sensor. As soon as I found out what and where it was, I took it off and discovered it was severely corroded. I replaced it and now it works great. Thanks for your channel and your response.

[@stevekenbeek7823]

@@DanRichardFishing Steve Kenbeek 6 minutes ago it was the trim position sensor. As soon as I found out what and where it was, I took it off and discovered it was severely corroded. I replaced it and now it works great. Thanks for your channel and your response.

[@patriciacapito5398]

My brother has a 93 mercury 40 or 50 hp motor. I helped take off his trim motor and of course brushes and everything inside was corroded. I ordered a retro fit to replace which will work, but we cannot find a release valve for the hydraulic pressure anywhere. He cannot lift it to the up position either. Have any ideas?

[@DanRichardFishing]

Hi Patricia, the manual release valve should be on the right side of the engine bracket in a recessed hole and will have a slot in the bolt for a regular large flathead screwdriver. Use a flashlight and look inside any holes that basically your finger can go in and if you see one with a flat head notch inside, that's it. One full turn counter-clockwise should be enough to release the pressure, you don't need to remove it. Let me know if that helps!

[@patriciacapito5398]

@@DanRichardFishing ty but there isn't one. I read on a forum today that some 1990- 1995 mercury's came without the release valve, it so then you crack a line on the bottom then lift engine to the up position. And be prepared for a lot leakage.

[@DanRichardFishing]

Yeah that makes sense, but shouldn't be too much leakage, there's a surprisingly little amount of oil in there, at least I found it surprising. Do you have a marine mechanic you can ask to take a peek at it before you start playing with the line?

[@lloyddenny5668]

Reinstall after fixed

[@nemanjalaganin9310]

My manual tilt screw is threaded can yous please help?what do I do?how do I drop the engine.I overdone it when I was tilting my engine up plz help

[@DanRichardFishing]

Hi there, sorry I didn't see this until now, were you able to fix it??

[@samtate1260]

Does it matter what kind of automatic transmission fluid Textron or mercon v

[@DanRichardFishing]

Just make sure whatever you use is detergent free and always check with the manufacturer to be 100% sure.

[@samtate1260]

Dan Richard Fishing the marina by me said to use Call math power steering fluid

[@DanRichardFishing]

@@samtate1260 I you trust them, then it should be OK but I can't say 100%. In my case, I went to the Mercury Authorized dealer and asked what they would recommend and went with that. I am not a boat engine expert at all so I always check with the merc folks.

[@samtate1260]

Dan Richard Fishing I asked the marina by me and they said to use power steering fluid very thin and that’s what he used before I also head Marvel mystery oil believe it or not Marina said don’t overfill it or you will blow the seal right out

[@williame.martinjr.5309]

@@samtate1260 he

[@samtate1260]

Why can’t I use dot 3 brake fluid it is the same as hydraulic fluid

[@DanRichardFishing]

You have to be careful using brake fluid or ATF transmission fluid, that's why I recommend following the recommendations of your trim manufacturer. Some trims use materials for the seals on its trim pump system that are not compatible with either ATF or brake fluid. I actually think MerCruiser trims are among that list.

[@samtate1260]

Dan Richard Fishing I don’t know what the manufacturer recommendations are because it’s a 1984 115 hp Evinrude and I don’t have a service manual I will call a marina thank you for the info

[@gloman4l151]

What did you end up using I have same motor

[@182corbin]

i filled mine up but it wont keep preassure. just falls back down

[@DanRichardFishing]

Sounds like you definitely have a seal that's completely blown, that will need to be replaced unfortunately.

[@relicupnorth]

Your garage door needs trim :)

[@DanRichardFishing]

🤣🤣 one of the many repairs that I need to do on this house that we just moved into last December. Currently the new garden shed is robbing all of my time 😥

[@jorgesalamanca8586]

Will better to fix it and not to drop any oil in the water

[@DanRichardFishing]

Absolutely! If the stop leak product doesn't work and you continue to lose oil consistently, you need to repair or replace the cylinder.

[@robmoose5995]

Screw the environment as long as u save money

[@DanRichardFishing]

Well obviously if your unit is constantly leaking and you have to keep refilling the cylinder and the stop leak doesn't work, you need to repair or replace it. I actually did a video this year on how to remove the trim and what I did to get mine rebuilt. Mine started leaking again pretty bad last fall so it was time for it to come off and get fixed.