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Thread: Tilt / trim question

  1. #1
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    Default Tilt / trim question


    '87 Mariner 115hp. Has been sitting for 10+ years. Today I removed the engine from the boat, it had been sitting on the transom saver.
    I mounted it to a portable stand. When I lowered the engine (now sitting vertical) fluid dripped out of the trim unit.
    How would you proceed?
    I've never messed with tilt/trim units before. Gonna get a manual for it also.
    Drinkin coffee, missin fish.

  2. #2
    Barnacle Bill's Avatar
    Barnacle Bill is offline Super Mod and 2014 Crappie.com Man of the Year * Crappie.com Supporter
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    Years ago I had a 1983 Merc 150 that did that. I needed a temp fix for a fishing trip that I was leaving for. It was a slow leak so I added some TransX to the fluid and it stopped the leak. I had all intentions of fixing it later but completely forgot about it until after I sold the boat several years later. It never did start leaking again. I strongly suspect it was a seal that had got hard from sitting so long with no use. Most auto parts stores carry it. Its worth a try.
    Fair Winds and Following Seas

    Bill H. PTC USN Ret
    Chesapeake, Va

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    I'd be concerned that it's full of water.

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    Where was the leak, and how bad was it ??

    Sitting with the motor raised all the way up the pressure was off the pump, but sitting that long unused may have dried out the seals

    Did you lower the motor with the switch or manually ??

    Is it still leaking & is motor raised again or still lowered down ??

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    As it turns out, the problem was ME ! The engine was stored in the travel position, resting on the transom saver. To shorten the story, I opened the manual relief valve. Once I tightened it, no more "leaks".
    I've refilled the t/t, operated it several times, all good now.

    Thanks to all for the replies !
    Drinkin coffee, missin fish.
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    Quote Originally Posted by skunked again View Post
    As it turns out, the problem was ME ! The engine was stored in the travel position, resting on the transom saver. To shorten the story, I opened the manual relief valve. Once I tightened it, no more "leaks".
    I've refilled the t/t, operated it several times, all good now.

    Thanks to all for the replies !

    YAY !!!

    MY T/T problem was operator error (mine) as well. I loosened the release screw too far and when I lifted the motor (by hand) it blew the screw out of the hole, along with a bunch of fluid. Tried several different methods to bleed air out & replace the fluid, but finally found out that if you raise the motor up & set it on the chock of the T/T, then run the UP switch for 5 secs and refill the fluid, then repeat until the motor is lifted off the chock ... and cycle the motor up/down with the switch a few times to make sure you have full motion range ... then you're good to go. Well, that's what it took to get mine back in working order, anyway, so I'm not saying that's a magic bullet cure for every T/T problem.

  7. #7
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    papasage is offline Crappie.com 2011 Man of the Year & Moderator GA * Crappie.com Supporter
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    mine started leaking had to add fluid on almost every outing . i ordered a seal kit $85.00 then i could not find a spinner wrench . made one out of a lawn mower blade and it worked fine .
    retired and now i will always fish

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    Glad you got it fixed.
    At least once a year, I lower my motor as far down as I can but can still get to the T/T plug, and I drain the fluid and suck out what I can with my Mity Vac hose. Down like that means I can get out more fluid. Then I refill it with Valvoline High Mile Transmission Fluid containing stop leak and seal conditioners (Walmart has it). Then I cycle it up and down and top it off with the motor up.
    Every time I do this I get some crud, but it gets to be less and less over time.
    I think it is good to get that crud out of the bottom of the reservoir, and anything on a hose sucking it out seems to be the way.

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