Merc Outboard power lift issues

[Rockfish]

The electo-hydrolic lift on my early generation 225 Opti has quit. Before it quit it was a little slow going down but seemed to have decent speed going up. I am thinking it is most likely electrical, bad ground or a corrosion related high resistance connection that may have caused the motor fuse for the lift system to blow.

We were all ready to pull the boat for the winter when this happened and now cannot pull the boat with the main in the down position (bummer). So we will somehow have to get the cowling off which is way out back on the Pod without dropping it overboard and find/check and possibly replace the fuse to hopefully get it up before fixing the cause on land and perhaps check some of the on motor lift related electrical connections. The motor cranks and starts so it would seem it has good main power. Could also be a bad related relay but the fact that it was running a bit slow suggest to me a bad high resistance connection.

Anyone know what type of fuse, what it looks like, amps and where it is located on the motor?

Any ideas/suggestions for this problem would be appreciated.

PS. someone suggested putting a couple of Viagra Pills in the fuel tank, - might work?

 

[Marley]

The electo-hydrolic lift on my early generation 225 Opti has quit. Before it quit it was a little slow going down but seemed to have decent speed going up. I am thinking it is most likely electrical, bad ground or a corrosion related high resistance connection that may have caused the motor fuse for the lift system to blow.

We were all ready to pull the boat for the winter when this happened and now cannot pull the boat with the main in the down position (bummer). So we will somehow have to get the cowling off which is way out back on the Pod without dropping it overboard and find/check and possibly replace the fuse to hopefully get it up before fixing the cause on land and perhaps check some of the on motor lift related electrical connections. The motor cranks and starts so it would seem it has good main power. Could also be a bad related relay but the fact that it was running a bit slow suggest to me a bad high resistance connection.

Anyone know what type of fuse, what it looks like, amps and where it is located on the motor?

Any ideas/suggestions for this problem would be appreciated.

PS. someone suggested putting a couple of Viagra Pills in the fuel tank, - might work?

Isn’t there usually a screw to bypass the trim so you can lift the motor manually? Throw on some waders and get a buddy to help tilt it up so you can pull the boat and work on land?

 

[tinboatrobb]

Check your manual, there will be a manual fix

 

[salmonkiller01]

Should have a screw to release tilt on the tilt housing. YouTube is your friend

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/607500-mercury-power-trim-manual-release-valve-stuck.html

 

[ship happens]

Yes there is a manual release valve screw. It will either move fairly easily or will be a complete ****. Sometimes need a torch it a bit without getting it too hot and melting the oring. Some of the merc screws are plastic. Good luck. Also it's a real **** to lift it. 2 guys makes it easier. Get it up and flip down the tilt lock. Good luck

Merc land is no fun, especially when it comes to changing the pump motor. Have to split the bracket to remove the assembly.

 

[scott craven]

Could also be a bad related relay

My friend had the same issue with his 2002 150 HP Opti
and it was in fact a relay.
He changed it out and it started working.

 

[salmonkiller01]

You can swap the relays

 

[triplenickel]

You can swap the relays

Yep, green for grass and blue for sky.

 

[Rockfish]

So time for an update. We got the motor up yesterday after doing a lot of online research and one of my buddies downloading a 700 plus page shop manual for an early Opti 225. So after charging up the batteries which were new this year and cleaning all the battery related connections, we were getting a little movement/vibration like it was wanting to go up but just did not have the power to do it. So we put two guys out on the Pod and with both of them pulling on the back of the cowling as hard as they could and me rocking the up switch, with a lot of human assist, we got it up. So now we can work on it on land.

Thanks for the suggestion on the screw to disable the lift and pull it up manually. Thankfully that was not necessary and quite frankly may well have been impossible. That screw has not been touched in over 20 years and from what I have read could have been very difficult to move without destroying it in the effort, even if you were on land. Not to mention that it looks like we would of had to access it about a foot underwater and then lift a very heavy six cylinder motor, which a least for us I think would have been impossible. Was also a little concerned that if you did turn the screw out would that allow water pressure to force salt water into the system. There was mixed opinions on that.

From the shop manual it looks like the relays can be serviced, contacts cleaned etc. So next there is tracing and checking connections and harnesses, relays and the trim angle sensor. So hopefully it can be fixed without having to replace the lift motor or cylinder.

PS one idea was to bypass the switch, wiring and relays etc and hot wire the lift motor (with a fuse) direct to the battery to get around any electrical problems and just get the motor up. Happy that plan was not necessary. Very happy we got it up.