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Trim Stuck on 4.3 Mercruiser

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wisowebs

New member
Kinda having a weird issue, not really sure where to start. I have a 99 Sea Ray, with the 4.3.. Been a great boat.. Back in 2004, the trim cylinder seals started to leak, fixed both sides, worked great no hiccups. This last season did the same thing. So I just put new ones in a few days ago. Tested the trim in the driveway, up, down, up, down, etc.. Working perfect.

Lauched and docked the boat.

Next day go down to the boat, and the trim is stuck up *trailer trim position* ALL THE WAY UP

So I am pretty sure it will go up, but cannot test that. When you hit the trim button, you hear the pump/motor, but nothing. Will not move a single inch, what so ever. Can air be trapped in that cylinder, or something interally with that pump? I have no idea how it worked fine, just hours before, and now its just stuck.

Does anyone have any suggestions, as I have the boat in the water, and it will be a long 2 mile drive to the launch with the trim in that position.

Thanks
 
Ayuh,... When ya trim Up, 'n hear the motor crowd,...
Tap it Down alittle bit...
It unloads the valving so's that don't happen...

Have somebody Jump on it,... it'll go down... ;)
 
LOL, to jump on it...
The trim will not move up at all, I hit the trailer button and then tried to go down nothing...
 
Last edited:
wisowebs said:
LOL, to jump on it...
The trim will not move up at all, I hit the trailer button and then tried to go down nothing...
Click to expand...
lol, What bondo was suggesting is, try having someone carefully stand on + bounce up and down a little bit on the outdrive while someone hit's the down button. Hopefully the drive will go down with some extra weight put on it.:)
 
Dont get me wrong, I really appreciate the suggestion.

We tried that ( I am typing this from my phone). My brother needs to gain some weight LOL, he is only 180, would still not budge... We tried down, while he stood on it, and he even did a little bouncing..

I had the cap off the fluid reservoir, and some fluid began to come to the top (like it was going to overflow) and then that was it when we were trying to manually get it down with him on the drive. I do not know if I orginally overfilled it after the new seals when in?
 
Swap the lines on the pump. That will get it down. Then swap them back. Leave the drive down and go for a ride. While under power trim the drive up to the limit and back down. It will free up.
 
Great idea! If I switch those line, I actually will click up on the trim to bring it down right?

Because they are reversed...?

I am going to wait until morning, so I can see better. Will let you know how it works, thanks!
 
Also when you get a chance, make sure you installed (Angled) both of the trim cylinder connecting ends properly. I believe if the connecting ends are 180 out, it may put a bind on the cylinder rams and causes them to hang up like this.;)

For an example of the correct installation process on an alpha Gen 2 drive, see page 5B-14.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14b5.pdf

Or if you have a bravo style drive, See bottom of page 5B-18.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/11/11b5r5x.pdf

Good luck.:)
 
wisowebs said:
Great idea! If I switch those line, I actually will click up on the trim to bring it down right?

Because they are reversed...?

I am going to wait until morning, so I can see better. Will let you know how it works, thanks!
Click to expand...


Exactly. The trim pump puts out more pressure when you are trimming the drive up. So if the trim pistons are tight switching the lines will force the drive down.
 
Sure enough, big thanks!! Swapping the lines, I was able to get the trim almost all the way down. Switched the lines back, and then I took her for a ride, and it seemed to clear itself right up.

Its moves slighly slower than before up/down, but that is because I need to completely flush all the old oil out, which is my next project this weekend.

Thanks a lot guys for all your help and suggestions!!!
 
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