Tilt trim troubles-gctid376537

[Guest]

I have replaced the rams on my BII outdrive, and the drive now goes up and down (old rams were frozen up), but now have problem with intermittent operation. The problem does not appear to be swithces as it occurs from either helm station. What I am getting is I may have to press the trim button up or down several times to get response from the pump. Once it starts to go it continues, but may take 10-12 time pressing and releasing the button to get response. I suspect that my next step is to replace the solenoids, but seems odd that this occurs with both up and down.

Do these solenoids work interrmitently like that, or just fail? Could I just be dealing with bad (dirty contactacts) in the switches at both helm stations? Seems like at price of solenoids would be best way to proceed. Shop wants $110/hour to diagnose, with 1/2 hour min. For that price I could just change the solenoids. Hate "throwing parts" at trouble, but just seems logical.

Am I thinking right, can I check these with mutli-meter?

Thanks for help.

[Guest]

trode wrote:
suspect that my next step is to replace the solenoids, but seems odd that this occurs with both up and down.

Do these solenoids work interrmitently like that, or just fail? Could I just be dealing with bad (dirty contactacts) in the switches at both helm stations? Seems like at price of solenoids would be best way to proceed. Shop wants $110/hour to diagnose, with 1/2 hour min. For that price I could just change the solenoids. Hate "throwing parts" at trouble, but just seems logical.

Am I thinking right, can I check these with mutli-meter?

Thanks for help.

Replace both of them, yes they will work intermitently, they are most likely your issues. They are cheap, replace both yourself and be doen with it. I have run into this issue on 2 of my boats.

Also make sure your connections to them are solid, that can also cause this but they are most likely shot.

[Guest]

biohazard wrote:
Replace both of them, yes they will work intermitently, they are most likely your issues. They are cheap, replace both yourself and be doen with it. I have run into this issue on 2 of my boats.

Also make sure your connections to them are solid, that can also cause this but they are most likely shot.

Yes, I am happy to report that you were correct, after much bending and flexing, ugh, got the old solenoids out only to realize the replacements I bought were wrong mount bracket, flat not curved. Next day picked up the new ones and put in and all is fine with tilt/trim. Funny the guy at my shop thought they were not the problem, they "clicked" in response to switch but didn't run tilt motor, he wanted to start with motor. Glad I didn't do that. The clicking did have me convinced the switches were not the trouble as the click was instantanious response to switch activation. Nice to be back in "trim"! - Note here, solenoids were 27.95 at local part supplier, but were 18.99 at West Marine, that was a surprise.

[Guest]

Great to hear! The click noise is a dead giveaway they are toast. Both of my failed ones clicked but didnt move the drive. I kept the ones that didnt fail as a spare, but replaced them anyway. Good work!

[Guest]

I think I have the same problem. I checked the fuse and it seems fine. Where would i find the solenoids and what do the look like.

[Guest]

The new rams from SEI work just fine now that I changed the solenoids, they were my problem with the intermittent issue. Have been a little disappointed in the hydraulic hoses that I ordered with the rams from SEI, clearly the quality of the SS on the fittings is not on par with the Mercruiser OEM's. They have only been on for a month or so, yet there is appearance of som rust already. I may end up changing out at end of season for OEM hoses. See how that goes.

[Guest]

I got mine working to day. It only seems to work when the batteries are set on both. If I set it to house or starting it just rapidly ticks. Is that a solenoid problem?