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Johnson Seahorse V4 Tilt problem

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buixrule

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I have like an 80 or 81 Johnson Seahorse V4 90hp outboard and the power tilt only now workes in the down direction. This just happened out of nowhere. When I try to raise it I hear the relay clicking, but nothing happens. Each direction has it's own relay, so I swapped relays thinking the contacts might be bad and still only the down direction works, so I know the relays are good. The problem seems to be from the relay box on back to the motor. I cannot lift the motor even when opening the reservoir plug on the pump reservoir. The two lift pistons areattached the the motor housing through holes with locknuts on the otherside which go onto the threaded ends of the lift pistons. I took off those nuts figuring when we lifted the motor manually that the pistons would slide right out of the holes and we could lift the motor. No can do. It's almost as if there's some kind of mechanical thing holding us back because we almost lifted the tail of the boat right off the trailer and the motor did not budge a millimeter when we tried to lift it. Any idea? I can't identify the exact model number because I can't lift the motor to see the model tag on the mounting bracket. All around this really sucks. Any help is appreciated!
 
Did you back out the manual release screw ( through the big hole in the bracket ) a couple of turns to see if you could lift it ??------Salt water motor ??---------Big question ??----------If you removed 2 nuts ( 9/16" wrench ) that you can see at the back on the bracket , then nothing will happen as those simply hold bumpers that the ends of the piston rods run on.------I think you need to consult a manual as guessing here simply does not work , sorry.
 
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racerone said:
Did you back out the manual release screw ( through the big hole in the bracket ) a couple of turns to see if you could lift it ??------Salt water motor ??---------Big question ??----------If you removed 2 nuts ( 9/16" wrench ) that you can see at the back on the bracket , then nothing will happen as those simply hold bumpers that the ends of the piston rods run on.------I think you need to consult a manual as guessing here simply does not work , sorry.
Click to expand...

No that's ok, I appreciate your time. it's not a salt water motor. Very rare that I put it in salt, even though I live right on the ocean all my recreation is in lakes. Might see salt once every couple years. I backed out the set screw on the side of the pump until fluid was leeaking out, made no difference in ability to lift. As I said the manual part all depends on me finding the model number so I can order the correct manual. I can't see the model number because I think I have to lift the motor to reveal it. I have a buddy in marine electrical business coming to look at the situation tomorrow, maybe we can narrow it down further I don't know. It really baffles me that I cannot manually raise this motor though.
 
You state "I backed out the set screw on the side of the pump until fluid was leeaking out" ???

The manual release screw is within a hole near the bottom side of the starboard transom bracket. If you backed that screw out more than two turns... to a point where it has fluid leaking out, you have no doubt backed it into a retaining snap ring which has destroyed the sealing O Ring. However, at any rate, if this is the screw you backed out, you should have been able to lift the engine.

Where is this screw that you backed out?

The model number should be on a small plate attached to the port transom bracket... possibly also on a small quarter size core plug on the powerhead, usually on top of the block near the port cylinder head gasket.
 
Joe maybe I'm using the wrong terminolgy and just confusing matters. Let me try to clarify, because I'm an automotive junky normally, outboards are just an annoyance of a hobby for me rather than an enjoyment of mine. :)

I don't know it seems like you and I are talking about the same thing. I am aware of that o-ring you speak of, I guess if I have to replace it I have to replace it, but the immediate task at hand is I need to get this engine up out of the way so I can access the tilt assembly. I do not know what you mean about the retaining snap ring. It's a plug, just like the rear axle of a car. You unscrew the plug and you fill the reservoir with fluid until it runs out then you plug it back up. The tilt fluid, this is what I'm talking about. I figured if I could take some of the pressure out I could life the motor. I definitely do not understand these outboards as much as you guys so that's why I'm here. I need to be told in layman's terms. I have to see if I can post a pic of what I am talking about or I think we will just be going in circles because of what I'm describing maybe not being the accurate name for something. What is the powerhead and where is it located? Sorry if that sounds dumb but again I'm a car guy.
 
You still didn't list the model number of which I listed two places you could find it. If you are mistaken as to what year you have, the power tilt/trim assembly could be vastly different from the 1980s model. If a 1980s model, I pinpointed where the manual release valve would be and to back it out only 2 turns which would allow you to lift the engine.

It sounds like you're speaking of simply removing the reservoir fill screw plug BUT if that's a 1980s PTT unit, that screw plug would not be accessible if the engine is all the way down..

The powerhead is the block with the crankshaft, pistons, etc.

Model number?
 
I will look around for the model number but I looked all over that darn this yesterday and could not locate it. Yes, it was the fill plug I was speaking and yes it was not easy to get at but there was enough room to get a screw driver in there to break it loose. I'll have to look for this manual release valve you're talking about because maybe that's the only good way to release the pressure. I am almost positive that this motor is between 1980-1984, but I will try to find the model number again.
 
You state " I'll have to look for this manual release valve you're talking about because maybe that's the only good way to release the pressure."

It is! If you have a 1980+ model, the manual release valve is exactly where I stated. Remember... 2 turns out only!
 
Ok I'll be careful, but isn't there also an o-ring in the fill plug that I loosened yesterday that I need to be worried about? Or is that just like a pipe thread type deal?
 
Don't be concerned about the O Ring on the reservoir seal screw. That O Ring simply presses up against the reservoir body to seal. When you backed it out, due to the fluid being higher than the fill hole when the engine is in the down position, the fluid simply leaked by.
 
Thanks Joe. So, good news. My buddy came and tested the motor and it went up and down. He bypassed all the electronic. So, I opened the electrical junction box and removed the connector pins one by one that the relays plug into and wire bruched them and then packed with dialectric grease, then, I sprayed WD-40 onto the relay that I suspected was the bad, the WD soaked right into the relay and must have de-gummed the contacts or something because when I put it all back together I pushed the up button, got a click and no movement at first, pushed it again and started working. I think the relay contacts got some old grease gummed up on them. So what I thought was going to be a small fortune ended up being free, so far. Hopefully it will continue to work. I really appreciate all your guy's help.
 
The electric motor on a relay equipped PTT unit is a dual polarity motor. Jumpers from a battery applied to both of the electric motor wires causes it to run in one direction... reversing the jumpers causes it to run in the opposite direction.

Glad to hear that you got the unit functioning, however a word of advice.... purchase a new relay and keep it in your on board tool box kit. I strongly suspect you'll need it at some point down the road.
 
That's EXACTLY what I was thinking, to keep a spare relay onboard. Good advice. Would any NAPA have them or would you recommend a marine supply?
 
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