1989 150 Tilt/Trim trouble

[bill_w]

I noticed something strange this weekend with my 150 Johnson tilt and trim. If the motor is tilted all the way up, when I go to tilt it down, the trim pistons retract first, then the tilt piston. Then, when the motor is about 1/2 way down, it falls slowly the rest of the way, with out the pump running, and one trim piston starts to extend from its cylinder. It seems to me that there is a valve sticking open somewhere, that is retracting the trim cylinders instead of the tilt cylinder.

Any idea where to start looking??

thanks in advance

 

[joereeves]

That is simply caused by the steering rod tube nuts being too tight, resulting in friction holding the engine in a tilted position.

Loosen one of the nuts 1/2 turn, spray a little WD40 on each side. You may have to use a 2x4 and a good size hammer to shove the steering bracket towards one side or the other to help ease the friction. Now might be a good idea to grease those grease fittings huh?

 

[bill_w]

Joe...I never would have thought of that. I did have to tighten one side on the weekend, to get the cable steering nut off. The whole tube was turning. And I do grease things

thanks very much, I wasn't looking forward to having to tear into the hydraulics.