Thread: TILT & TRIM PROBLEMS

Originally Posted by Scales

I have a 1989 Johnson 90HP VRO that runs great but I am having problems with the Tilt & Trim. Has gotten real slow and squeals a lot especially in the first stage. All fluid levels are ok. I have found some units on EBay but they are around $500.00. Any suggestions or any ideas of where I might find one other than these on EBay or maybe get this one rebuilt?

Hi Scales. Have you tried bleeding the air out of the system or replacing the fluid? Any leaks from the seals around the two lift cylinder shafts?


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Originally Posted by NewYakker

Hi Scales. Have you tried bleeding the air out of the system or replacing the fluid? Any leaks from the seals around the two lift cylinder shafts?


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Bass boat central.com...Forums for sale..
This website is great for boat and motor issues.go down to Johnson/Evenrude Q&A section..Them boys DO have answers.Just have ser.# and Mod.#s handy

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Dumb question, have you greased the tilt shaft lately? Can you get someone to run the tilt while you try to focus on where the squeal is coming from?

I had a similar problem & the fix was to loosen the pressure release screw & manually lift the motor all the way up and chock it with the holding mechanism on the T/T ----close the pressure release screw, then run the switch in the UP position for 5sec's, and if it does not lift motor off the chock, then open the fill screw & add fluid (then replace fill screw). Repeat this procedure until UP switch lifts motor off the chock. Stow chock & cycle the motor up/down with the switch button to insure you have full tilt & trim function.

You will also want to have your boat as level as possible ... I had to drop my tongue down as far as it would go with the 3rd wheel, as my boat sits in a parking space that's slightly angled towards the transom end.

My problem was lost fluid (my error) from loosening the release screw too far & blowing it out of the unit (along with a lot of fluid) when I was manually lifting the motor up to put it on the motor toter (to bring it home from storage bldg), as I had forgotten to bring a battery to do it "electronically". So don't loosen the release screw more than 2 full turns !!!
I tried several other methods to purge the air, most of them involved manually lifting & lowering the motor & checking/adding fluid ... but, all I got from those attempts was bruised arms & a sore back.

My T/T looks like this one :

Thanks for the response New Yakker and unfortunately yes I have tried this. I was hoping it would be the cure but it isn't. We were thinking alike.

Thanks CrappiePappy I will give this a try tomorrow. Once mine reaches the second stage it lifts pretty good but still makes the noise.

Thanks Cray and at this point there is no Dumb question. I have greased it but without success.

Originally Posted by swamprat

Bass boat central.com...Forums for sale..
This website is great for boat and motor issues.go down to Johnson/Evenrude Q&A section..Them boys DO have answers.Just have ser.# and Mod.#s handy

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Thanks Swamprat. I will call them tomorrow.