tilt acting up today, thoughts?

tnltracy

tnltracy

Member
So we're cruising along en route to Newport Jazz fest today when suddenly the motor is tilted up about half way. Still in enough to run, but tilt trim button in operable.

Got to dock, and it went back down on its own. Seems to be working ok now, but cocerned about if it may happen again.

Anyone have any ideas, or seen this before? Its a 1998 Johnson 130.

Tom
 
Tnltracy,

My 1983 175 Johnson just went through the exact same thing. I was departing the dock at the Point Judith Public Launch and my motor on it's own lifted right out of the water as I was underway. I lowered it back down and all was good that trip. Four days later it was acting up again then it would work off & on. I have the old school trim switch that is dash mounted and not mounted on the throttle handle. I changed out the switch first and it still was acting up so upon further inspection I found that the trim motor was shot and fried. I replaced the trim motor with a brand new one and it works better then ever. This may not be your problem but it's a start. I know someone may chime in on this who knows more about it then I do, because I am far from an expert on these matters.
 
Shawsee said:
Tnltracy,

My 1983 175 Johnson just went through the exact same thing. I was departing the dock at the Point Judith Public Launch and my motor on it's own lifted right out of the water as I was underway. I lowered it back down and all was good that trip. Four days later it was acting up again then it would work off & on. I have the old school trim switch that is dash mounted and not mounted on the throttle handle. I changed out the switch first and it still was acting up so upon further inspection I found that the trim motor was shot and fried. I replaced the trim motor with a brand new one and it works better then ever. This may not be your problem but it's a start. I know someone may chime in on this who knows more about it then I do, because I am far from an expert on these matters.
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Great Input Shawsee, thanks so much!

I will take a look at the motors first then. I have the throttle mounted switch, and it seems to work fine now. Strange experience, especially where it went back down on it's own.

Never got to the jazz festival, but instead anchored between Prudence and Patience islands for a bit and had lunch while the kids did some swimming. A decent day overall given the scare and possibilty of a very slow trip back up the bay if the tilt didn't start working again. I really need to get the camera out and get some pix.
 
Just to point out it DOES have a manual over ride in the event its stuck in the up position,Its a screw on the T&T on the starboard side, you use a large flat screwdriver and turn counter clockwise and it will lower down ..Just a pointer ..
 
nymack66 brings up a good point also with the relays, be sure to check them out also. When I checked mine I noticed one must have gotten really warm when the motor fried and it actually had melted the outter plastic core! They still work fine but I am waiting for two new ones to come in and I will be changing them both out just to make sure it's good to go.

In my case when the trim motor finally did die, my motor was stuck in the down position, which made it very interesting trying to retrieve the boat back on the trailer. I did manage to find the screw on the starboard side and was able to manually lift the motor. Just make sure if this ever happens to you and you back the screw out, do not remove the screw, just back it out a couple of threads. When I did(unknowingly the first time) I removed the screw entirely and whenever I lifted the motor the fluid shot out of the hole like a shotgun blast and flew at least 20 feet. I almost plastered an old man who was standing there watching us!
 
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isn't that the fasttrac system? is it a relay or control mod style? be sure the trim switch is good most common with this on the handle mount type.
 
tnltracy said:
Never got to the jazz festival, but instead anchored between Prudence and Patience islands for a bit and had lunch while the kids did some swimming. .
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I'm sure I'll offend some jazz fans here but I went to that festival once and I was ready to blow my brains out...4 hours of music that sounded exactly the same to me....I really dont get that jazz fusion whatever they call it.....(hope you get your trim issue fixed):fam:
 
Skools Out said:
isn't that the fasttrac system? is it a relay or control mod style? be sure the trim switch is good most common with this on the handle mount type.
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If it is in fact a 98 130 then yep it's a fastrack. I've had alot of problems with trim switches on the engine causing this to happen myself.
 
thanks all!

I have the shop manual, but not familiar with the fastrack term. From your note, are you suggesting I look at the in handle switch at helm first, or a separate switch at the motor?
 
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