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Johnson 88 SPL Trim Motor Replacement

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slug1

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My trim motor is shot, so I bought a new one without really looking at how I will replace it. The third screw next to the transom is unreachable. I've read several options that require releasing the motor from the transom, or knocking the pin out of the eyelet and letting the trim tube swing down. Unfortunately, my eyelet is in pretty bad shape and I don't think it can handle the pounding I will need to do, to get the pin out. My question is, can I remove all the bolts that hold the trim/tilt assembly to the transom mounts and let it swing away from the transom, and be suspended by the rod/eyelet of the trim cylinder?

This is my first post, and I would appreciate any help you can provide.
Thanks, David
 
Have the engine in a full tilted position and lock it there.

Remove all of the PTT unit's retaining bolts and pin from the top of the tilt ram, and disconnect the electric motor's wiring at its connector plug. With manual release valve screwed out two turns (no more), force the tilt lever down.

Tilt the PTT unit back towards you and out from between the transom brackets. Now you can get to that 3rd screw.
 
joereeves said:
Have the engine in a full tilted position and lock it there.

Remove all of the PTT unit's retaining bolts and pin from the top of the tilt ram, and disconnect the electric motor's wiring at its connector plug. With manual release valve screwed out two turns (no more), force the tilt lever down.

Tilt the PTT unit back towards you and out from between the transom brackets. Now you can get to that 3rd screw.
Click to expand...


I think I understand all of that, but the pin from the top of the tilt ram? Is that the same pin/eyelet attached to the motor, or the one on the bottom? I'm really trying to avoid pounding the one at the top of the ram that is right under the motor. I would be fine with breaking the eyelet, if I could buy a new one, but it's not available anywhere. I will go out and try this a little later this morning and see how it goes. Thanks for the reply.
 
slug1 said:
I would be fine with breaking the eyelet, if I could buy a new one, but it's not available anywhere.
Click to expand...

Breaking the eyelet?? I have no idea what you're speaking of. The top retaining pin of the center tilt ram cylinder needs to be removed and then the ram lowered due to the fact that the tilt ram cylinder is attached to the rest of the PTT assembly.

The alternative is to remove the engine from the boat in order to gain access to that 3rd electric motor screw.
 
joereeves said:
Breaking the eyelet?? I have no idea what you're speaking of. The top retaining pin of the center tilt ram cylinder needs to be removed and then the ram lowered due to the fact that the tilt ram cylinder is attached to the rest of the PTT assembly.

The alternative is to remove the engine from the boat in order to gain access to that 3rd electric motor screw.
Click to expand...

I will take a picture and post it. Maybe not worth a thousand words, but might help me explain. Thanks.
 
Ok, so here's a couple of pics. The one of the eyelet and another overall picture. Not that you would need it, but I'm not sure if I'm calling items by their correct name. Since the eyelet of the ram is pretty rusted, I don't think it will survive my effort to get the pin out. So, I want to know if I remove the retaining bolts, will the assembly swing out being suspended from the eyelet?

http://slugfiles.net/eyelet.jpg

http://slugfiles.net/bolts.jpg
 
Yes, that is an "eyelet and rod" and you are correct... that is their proper name. I just had a problem in visualizing anyone being capable of breaking one of those. However, I am amazed at the amount and gathering of rust at the top portion of that tilt rod assembly (eyelet) in your pictures. I've never seen anything like that.... and I've been around awhile!

Unfortunately, I think that you'll find that the PTT unit will not swing out from between the transom brackets as the bottom portion of the unit runs right into various portions of those brackets. It's always been the case that the tilt rod had to be disconnected and lowered, then the top of the PTT unit tilted back and lifted somewhat to slide it out of there.

Hopefully you can find away around that problem but I cannot imagine what it will be without removing the engine from the boat.

That "Eyelet and Rod" appears to be no longer available. There were two different types, both of which were over $150.00 back in 2004 or so. However, I'm sure that there must be a few dozen laying around in various outboard repair shops where the units have failed in some other fashion. Although I haven't been of much help, I do wish you luck.
 
Thanks very much for the information. I didn't really investigate the other obstructions. Saltwater does a number on a few of the critical steering and tilt/trim assemblies. I've taken the motor off before, but I was just trying to avoid it this time. I'm also repairing a soft spot in the floor, so I guess it will be a few more weeks before I can take it out again anyway.
 
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