Marina Problem

Dave R · 06-11-2013, 02:27 PM

Trim issues are very easy to troubleshoot on a Merc. Any interest in trying to fix it yourself?

AC2717 · 06-11-2013, 03:15 PM

a lot of time it is the trum button itself

8gv · 06-11-2013, 04:45 PM

If you post the symptoms here I'm sure we'll be able to fix it by committee.

I had a Mercruiser stern drive (in salt water) that had the trim cylinders seize. The drive was tilted up so I couldn't get it down with the trim motor. It had been getting progressively worse and I shouldn't have ignored it. My solution was to stand on the anti cavitation plate while wifey operated the trim switch.

Yes, I took the hint and took it directly to the repair shop.

Anvil · 06-11-2013, 06:03 PM

Hey guys,

Thanks for the input. I have very little mechanical ability and even less time. As my wife says....my strength is in writing checks!

codeman671 · 06-11-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anvil

Hey guys,

Thanks for the input. I have very little mechanical ability and even less time. As my wife says....my strength is in writing checks!

Try calling Matt at Supreme Marine, he could probably troubleshoot it at your dock and for a lot less.

HomeWood · 06-11-2013, 06:12 PM

Is the lower unit stuck in the up position? Is there not a way to open the system to relieve the pressure? I guess that could be messy and you wouldn't want hydro oil dumped into the lake, but just a thought.

NHskier · 06-11-2013, 08:48 PM

Something very simple to try would be to give the trim solenoids a gentle whack with the handle of a screwdriver as it may simply be a bit of corrosion on the contacts.

On my Volvo-Penta unit the solenoids are located in the engine compartment right by the trim pump. There are two (up & down), each about an inch square. To clean the contacts they can be pulled right out.

Dave R · 06-12-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeWood

Is the lower unit stuck in the up position? Is there not a way to open the system to relieve the pressure? I guess that could be messy and you wouldn't want hydro oil dumped into the lake, but just a thought.

9 times out of 10, it's electrical and caused by an issue on the low current side of the circuit or the solenoids. The Mercruiser trim solenoids are right on the trim pump as well, but not as easy to swap as the Volvo Penta relays. The mercs are easier to jump though, so assuming the pump is OK, with a piece of wire, one can make the trim move quite easily by lumping across the high current posts on either of the solenoids. There's very likely no need to drain oil if the drive is stuck in the up position.

HomeWood · 06-15-2013, 06:55 PM

Good to know, Dave. Our Monterey up there has a Mercruiser, so I'll keep that in mind.

Dave R · 06-17-2013, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeWood

Good to know, Dave. Our Monterey up there has a Mercruiser, so I'll keep that in mind.

One other thing to note, Mercruiser uses the same solenoid for the up trim, down trim and starter slave solenoid. All can be changed without too much fuss on the water, so one spare part in you tool box can have you covered for three part failures, on a part that has a high failure rate. The part number is 89-96158T.

06-11-2013, 03:15 PM	#2
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,577 Thanks: 755 Thanked 355 Times in 267 Posts	a lot of time it is the trum button itself __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

06-11-2013, 06:03 PM	#4
Anvil Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 30 Thanks: 14 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	No time Hey guys, Thanks for the input. I have very little mechanical ability and even less time. As my wife says....my strength is in writing checks!

06-11-2013, 08:48 PM	#7
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 292 Thanks: 44 Thanked 36 Times in 33 Posts	Something very simple to try would be to give the trim solenoids a gentle whack with the handle of a screwdriver as it may simply be a bit of corrosion on the contacts. On my Volvo-Penta unit the solenoids are located in the engine compartment right by the trim pump. There are two (up & down), each about an inch square. To clean the contacts they can be pulled right out. __________________ NHskier

06-11-2013, 02:27 PM	#1
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Trim issues are very easy to troubleshoot on a Merc. Any interest in trying to fix it yourself?

06-11-2013, 04:45 PM	#3
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,108 Thanks: 64 Thanked 747 Times in 481 Posts	If you post the symptoms here I'm sure we'll be able to fix it by committee. I had a Mercruiser stern drive (in salt water) that had the trim cylinders seize. The drive was tilted up so I couldn't get it down with the trim motor. It had been getting progressively worse and I shouldn't have ignored it. My solution was to stand on the anti cavitation plate while wifey operated the trim switch. Yes, I took the hint and took it directly to the repair shop.

06-11-2013, 06:12 PM	#6
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	Is the lower unit stuck in the up position? Is there not a way to open the system to relieve the pressure? I guess that could be messy and you wouldn't want hydro oil dumped into the lake, but just a thought.

06-15-2013, 06:55 PM	#9
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	Good to know, Dave. Our Monterey up there has a Mercruiser, so I'll keep that in mind.