Opti Trim & Tilt Motor

[Razorbill RIBs]

The motor on the 150 Opti has become 'lazy' today, so suspect it is on its way out /may have water ingress??

I'm off on charter to Grimsby early in the morning (using different RIB) and need to sort a replacement for when I return......

Questions:

- can they be rebuilt succesfully? /Anyone done this?
- anyone have one for sale?
- where to source one cheaply.....seem to remember a discussion re there being a better aftermarket one available, but search is coming up blank.....

Any guidance appreciated

[CJL]

I have rebuilt one and it gave me another 6 months life.

Normally its where the wire goes into the metal body and the rubber gromet becomes brittle.

Make sure you recharge the ATF before you start stripping it down as sometimes that can be the fault. If its not then strip down, clean up the electrics and tidy up the brushes.

You can just about do it on the transom but you'll need to slack the engine mounting bolts to give you some play. (Watch you head and language whilst working under it!)

If that works enjoy but be prepared to buy a new one fairly soon afterwards.

When you get that far contact Arco Starting and Charging in the US as they make a better one without the dodgy rubber gromet seal and its cheaper than the Merc one which is about £600. They sold me one for about £250 if I remember rightly but don't forget the import tax on top when it lands in blightly.

I've got the Optimax service manuals which you can download for free from our website: Northern Exposure Rescue

If you need any more info give me a shout and I'll see what I can do.

Chris

[Searider]

I got one from the engine room for my opti last winter. About £175 think.

Marine Aftermarket Ignition, Starters, Alternators and Power Trim from The Engine Room

[CJL]

There is a diagram on page 5b-4 in the manual showing the trim system btw.

[Under the Thumb]

Opti service manuals are a free download from here

Boating Resources from the Northern Exposure Collection

[Razorbill RIBs]

Thanks very much indeed guys!

Chris.....that is all really useful stuff, thank you A new one will be the way to go on that basis.....

Chris / Under the Thumb.....I already have a manual here, but thanks for the linky to download, sure others will find that really useful!!

Will get calling around......wonder if the engine room one is missing the troublesome grommet??

Thanks again, Dan

Edit: Engine Room - off the shelf /pattern part for £185 + VAT Be here Monday.....Great service

[Anchorhandler]

Hi guys

Maybe a silly question but why does my 200 opti have two pressurised struts either side of the tilt motor?....there is obviously a lot of pressure stored in these when outboard is in the fully down position (and the struts are compressed)
I can only assume that the idea is to store energy so as to make it easier for the outboard to trim 'out' when under full or nearly full power?.......
(but then how would you trim it back in?)

I'm probably missing something obvious?

Simon

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Hi guys

Maybe a silly question but why does my 200 opti have two pressurised struts either side of the tilt motor?....there is obviously a lot of pressure stored in these when outboard is in the fully down position (and the struts are compressed)
I can only assume that the idea is to store energy so as to make it easier for the outboard to trim 'out' when under full or nearly full power?.......
(but then how would you trim it back in?)

I'm probably missing something obvious?

Simon

One is a faster TILT motor and the other is a slower more powerful TRIM motor

Chris

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by Razorbill RIBs

Engine Room - off the shelf /pattern part for £185 + VAT Be here Monday.....

Update on this......the motor failed on charter beginning of the week, at just under 3 months old

Have had to pay for replacement and send old unit back for assesment, but it looks like another failed grommet.....

Manually lifted OB at end of day and thankfully sourced a unit overnight to complete the weeks work...new one will be fitted this w/e....... Tempted to add some sika around the grommet before fitting, but don't want to jeopardise any warranty.....any ideas?

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

I'm probably missing something obvious?

Hydraulics. The rams work by pumping fluid either in or out of a chamber sealed by a piston within the ram. Shouldn't be a whole lot of pressure unless you're actually pumping fluid.

jky