Can't Raise Lower Unit - '86 Mercruiser Alpha One

[MJM]

1986 Four Winns with 260hp Mercruiser AlphaOne

The lower unit will go down just fine, but raising it is a problem.
~ Doesn't move at all when using Trim switch
~ When using Trailer switch, it will eventually raise, but it takes lots of tries.
~ In both cases, I do here a switch noise coming from the engine compartment.
~ I checked the oil level in the pump, and it was low, but getting it back to the right level didn't fix the problem.


Any thoughts?


Thanks!

[Irrigation Guy]

On the pump itself there are a couple of small solenoid switches(one for up, one for down). I had one go bad years back. If I recall correctly, you can jump them to make the motor work in a pinch(also helps identify if this is the problem).

[Airwaves]

I have a similar problem on the boat I keep at the lake. When I mentioned it to the marina when I put the boat to bed last winter the owner told me that it could be a faulty gage.

I looked at him like he had two heads.

If I recall what he told me in explaination I think there is some kind of sensor in the gague that tells you where the lower unit is in the up and down range. If the gage is stuck in one position then the switch to raise or lower the unit won't respond in that direction because the sensor is telling the switch the unit is already as far as it can go.

In my case I can put the lower unit down but I have to use the trailer switch to raise the lower unit.

As I said this was last fall and it was the first I heard of anything like this, but if I recall he seemed to be saying the correction involved rewiring a new gage...or just bypassing the gage entirely.

I haven't addressed the issue yet since I didn't put the boat in Winnipesaukee this year.

[VitaBene]

check your fluid as well. The drive wants to go down via gravity so a fluid issue usually shows up first when raising, not lowering, the drive.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Airwaves

I have a similar problem on the boat I keep at the lake. When I mentioned it to the marina when I put the boat to bed last winter the owner told me that it could be a faulty gage.

I looked at him like he had two heads.

You had the correct response with that look. He is wrong.

Here is everything you need to know to troubleshoot Mercruiser trim systems:

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C1R3.PDF

And here is everything you need to know to fix them:

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/97/97hs6.pdf

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by MJM

1986 Four Winns with 260hp Mercruiser AlphaOne

The lower unit will go down just fine, but raising it is a problem.
~ Doesn't move at all when using Trim switch
~ When using Trailer switch, it will eventually raise, but it takes lots of tries.
~ In both cases, I do here a switch noise coming from the engine compartment.
~ I checked the oil level in the pump, and it was low, but getting it back to the right level didn't fix the problem.


Any thoughts?


Thanks!

I suspect you have dirty contacts or a disconnected wire in the trim limit switch circuit, and a problem with the up solenoid or its circuitry.

[MJM]

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by MJM

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated.

MJM, You realize you have to come back and tell us if/how you fixed it.

[Airwaves]

Originally posted by Dave R
Here is everything you need to know to troubleshoot Mercruiser trim systems:

Actually I have a Volvo Penta outdrive.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Airwaves

Actually I have a Volvo Penta outdrive.

Why'd you post in the Mercruiser trim thread then?

Seriously, I don't think the gauge controls the trim on a VP either, but I'm not 100% sure.

[Irrigation Guy]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Why'd you post in the Mercruiser trim thread then?

Seriously, I don't think the gauge controls the trim on a VP either, but I'm not 100% sure.

Airwaves, like Dave, I thought this thread was about a Mercruiser trim.


Pretty sure the hockey puck like things(I think they are senders) on each side of the unit attached to the transom control the guage on a Mercruiser.

I'd bet five bucks, if the drive doesn't attempt to move on one direction, it's one of the solenoids I mention above. Pretty easy and not too costly fix.

I suppose if one of those hockey puck senders came out of adjustment it may cause the problem too, but I'd take my chances on the solenoid first(jumping each one with a screwdriver).

[Airwaves]

I didn't think a trim was all that different between a Mercruiser and VP but I am pretty sure reading Mercruiser specs wouldn't help me with my VP.

The only reason I am even considering the marina owner MIGHT be right is that the gauge reads that the lower unit is in the trailer position no matter where it really is located in the up/down arch.

[NHskier]

I had a similar problem earlier this summer on my '98 Cobalt with VP drive, though in my case I couldn't lower the drive. When I had it looked at by one of the mechanics at Thurston's he said it's frequently caused by corrosion building up on the solenoid contacts. He disconnected, then reconnected them a couple times to get back to a good metal-to-metal connection.

That was early July - haven't had a problem since. I'd recommend that as your first thing to try, and it's the right price.

As mentioned earlier you can swap the connections from one solenoid to the other if you get stuck and need to raise the drive.

[MJM]

Hi again....I removed and cleaned all the connections to make sure that wasn't the issue.....no change.

I switched the solenoid connections, to see if the Up Solenoid is the issue. Since the problem was the same (could lower, but not raise) with the solenoids switched, that means it's not the solenoid, right?

Jumping the terminals DOES work - but I'm not sure what that tells me...

Could it be air in the system? I don't know how to bleed it.


Thanks all!

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by MJM

Hi again....I removed and cleaned all the connections to make sure that wasn't the issue.....no change.

I switched the solenoid connections, to see if the Up Solenoid is the issue. Since the problem was the same (could lower, but not raise) with the solenoids switched, that means it's not the solenoid, right?

Jumping the terminals DOES work - but I'm not sure what that tells me...

Could it be air in the system? I don't know how to bleed it.


Thanks all!

I had similar issue with my 88 OMC stern drive. Jumping the terminals means there is an electrical problem along the way, it could just be the trim switch itself (the one in your throttle), that was my issue, but maybe not yours, but when I had that situation I put it on an open switch on my panel and I got it raised and could use it that way untilt he switch I ordered came in, and then I just put the wiring back. If there is a break in the main power line via a swithc or solinoid in any direction it will only work by bypassing the break.

try taking out the switch itself and wiring it to a open switch on the panel if you have one. Let me know if it works? Mayeb I was just lucky

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by MJM

Hi again....I removed and cleaned all the connections to make sure that wasn't the issue.....no change.

I switched the solenoid connections, to see if the Up Solenoid is the issue. Since the problem was the same (could lower, but not raise) with the solenoids switched, that means it's not the solenoid, right?

Jumping the terminals DOES work - but I'm not sure what that tells me...

Could it be air in the system? I don't know how to bleed it.


Thanks all!

If jumping the relay terminals always works, but swapping the relays does not, you have really narrowed the problem down. It is not a relay or the pump.

To make the trim go up, you need to apply 12v to the blue and white wire that goes from the throttle to the up solenoid. There are two ways to do this. 1. The trailer switch does it directly. 2. The up trim switch does it indirectly by first applying 12v to the purple/white wire which then applies 12v to the trim limit switch. If the switch is closed, it will apply 12v to the blue/white wire. Since the problem is occuring some of the time with the trailer button and all of the time with the trim button, you very likely need a new trim limit switch and you need to clean the contacts on the trailer button.

[Irrigation Guy]

Definitely narrowing it down. It could be the switch at the throttle or as Dave suggests the limit switch on the transom. Sometimes the contacts can be cleaned.

[Kamper]

http://marinepartsplus.com/

See if you can find your motor here. Lots of "exploded" diagrams to find the parts which can be useful by themselves.

Good luck!

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by LocalRealtor

Definitely narrowing it down. It could be the switch at the throttle or as Dave suggests the limit switch on the transom. Sometimes the contacts can be cleaned.

If it was only the trim limit switch on the transom, the trailer button would always work.

[Irrigation Guy]

Originally Posted by Dave R

If it was only the trim limit switch on the transom, the trailer button would always work.

Yes, but as you stated before the contacts on the trailer button may need to be cleaned too.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by LocalRealtor

Yes, but as you stated before the contacts on the trailer button may need to be cleaned too.

Yeah, the symptoms are odd, eh? Usually it's just one problem, not two.

[Irrigation Guy]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Yeah, the symptoms are odd, eh? Usually it's just one problem, not two.

Those trailer buttons don't always used a lot though.

[AC2717]

So what was the final result?
what happened?

[MJM]

Hello all,

I haven't been able to work any more to try to resolve the issue. In fact, I'll probably have to winterize it and wait until Spring to dig in again.

Thanks VERY much for all the help!

[bigdog]

FYI.... I had a problem with my trailer-tilt button not operating the outdrive.
Pulled trailer switch button off throttle handle and found it all corroded.
After I cleaned, with some emory cloth and re-installed, it worked like a charm !

Probably would have been a $100 bill at the dealer !

Bigdog

[eye spy]

Take your boat to the guy o 106. He will look at it when you drop it off and tell you what is wrong. Then will tell you what it cost to fix.

I have had very good luck with him. He also does shrink wrapping and winterization at great prices. His phone number is 267-7223

Good luck

[Just Sold]

Originally Posted by Dave R

You had the correct response with that look. He is wrong.

Here is everything you need to know to troubleshoot Mercruiser trim systems:

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C1R3.PDF

And here is everything you need to know to fix them:

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/97/97hs6.pdf

This post may be almost 8 years old but Dave R and his great marine mechanical knowldge helped me. I was able to find a bad "up" solenoid for my Alpha 1 trim pump using the links he provided. Part is on order for <$15.00 and there is no labor charge. I am a very happy boater.

[Dave R]

I have acquired the Volvo Penta trim/tilt troubleshooting guide since this thread was started. PM me if you need it.