Outboard wont go down!

jonmitch · 02 May 2011, 16:41

Hi All

Felt very pleased with myself today having washed, scrubbed and re-antifouled the boat. Battery charged, engine greased and then...

My outboard wont go down. I can hear the motor running and there is a very faint movement but thats all. Have greased the piston etc.

May have to get an engineer but would value any quick fixes so I dont look a complete jerk if its something blindingly obvious.

Thanks for any advice and help.

Jon

gotchiguy · 02 May 2011, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonmitch

Hi All

Felt very pleased with myself today having washed, scrubbed and re-antifouled the boat. Battery charged, engine greased and then...

My outboard wont go down. I can hear the motor running and there is a very faint movement but thats all. Have greased the piston etc.

May have to get an engineer but would value any quick fixes so I dont look a complete jerk if its something blindingly obvious.

Thanks for any advice and help.

Jon

Sure you haven't lowered the tilt/trailer locking mechanism down? I'm not familiar with the Yamaha system but all outboards I have come across have some sort of mechanism. Maybe a good idea to have a look in the manual under "towing" or some variation of that.

Shaz · 02 May 2011, 17:00

I was struggling with one for quite a while yesterday before remembering the bit of rope which I'd tied around the bar it slots into to stop it jumping out when being towed.
Probably not that relevant, just a confession so if it does turn out to be something daft you don't feel alone....

Bern Hanreck · 02 May 2011, 19:34

Jon , have a look here

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard...px?ls=outboard

You can manually by pass the tilt & trim in an " emergency " . With a bit of a heave , you can get the engine up as well by manually raising it whilst the motor is humming but not actually doing the business !

If all else fails , it may be possible to cruise with the engine virtually locked in the fully down position , but watch out for stuffing in following seas etc and would suggest that this is a last resort .

Bern

9D280 · 03 May 2011, 09:44

Jon,

The catch gotchiguy is talking about is item 29/30 on this pic. Don't worry about the HP, all Yams have one!

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Ya...201/parts.html

As for the stuffing, shouldn't be any worse on a manually trimmed engine than one electrically moved to position. There is a releief valve in the mechanism that "lets go" if you hit something solid.

JABS · 03 May 2011, 11:01

If the tilt mechanism is like mine, there is a cap on the oil reservoir which is like a knurled dome nut.

If the engine is stuck up, it may be because the fluid is low. If you crack open the cap, it lets air out and the engine should then go down.

Top up the hydraulic oil whilst you are at it, using a small syringe.

Mine had been low for a long time, I think and the oil was aerated. It overflowed as a white foam. Once that was displaced with about 50 mls of oil, all was well again.

jonmitch · 03 May 2011, 19:14

Guys,

Thanks again so much. I will check it out tomorrow and feedback.

I love you all (not sexually though)

jon

Wesley · 21 October 2012, 04:47

Hello Jon

I have the same problem, got my boat back off the water yesterday got it home, went to lower the engine and it jams it will go up again not problem but will only lower about 15% then stops but I can hear the motor is still trying to lower it, it's like something is jamming it but I can see anything on the outside stopping it, i.e ropes, tube, dirt, etc.. ???? What happened with your?? Any ideas?? I have a 2010 Yamaha F20

donald463 · 21 October 2012, 07:46

I had this problem with my Yam F60. Turned out to be an airlock. drained fluid and replaced. This cured it but I have done again since (about 6 months) so may be a regular thing to do in future.
Perhaps this is a problem on Yam four strokes.

Wesley · 21 October 2012, 07:53

Thanks Donald I will try it.. That's a pain if it's a regular problem I was thinking thank god it didn't happen out on the water as we stopped at an Island and would have been screwed if it had decided to jam then.. Will drain the fluid and see if that works. Thanks again

kerny · 21 October 2012, 08:35

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the trim sender unit.

Wesley · 21 October 2012, 08:38

Thanks Kerny.. easily fixed?

Adamn · 21 October 2012, 10:20

Silly thought but it could be the locking lever which holds the engine in place whilst towing.

Wesley · 22 October 2012, 02:52

DOH!! Your silly thought was right, I'm an idiot and a first time boat owner if you hadn't guessed. Thanks for saving me a very embarrassing trip to the Yamaha service center..

Adamn · 22 October 2012, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesley

DOH!! Your silly thought was right, I'm an idiot and a first time boat owner if you hadn't guessed. Thanks for saving me a very embarrassing trip to the Yamaha service center..

If I was not shown that it had a locking bar for towing when I bought mine I would probably be on here asking the same question.

Wesley · 22 October 2012, 06:42

ha! I was completely unaware it had one.. I bought the boat about a week ago 2nd hand the previous owner told me very little about it so still working it all out.. Thanks again

jezza2011 · 22 October 2012, 07:31

Glad your sorted.

Straight from the manual.........

IMPORTANT: Do not rely on the power trim/tilt system or tilt
support lever to maintain proper ground clearance for trailering.
The outboard tilt support lever is not intended to support the
outboard for trailering.

I've seen broken tilt arms and saddles caused by towing the engine on the tilt support arm.

Wesley · 22 October 2012, 07:36

So I shouldnt use the tilt lock bar during trailering? I guess the engine would bounce up and down a bit which would may cause the locking bar to break but if it's not for that then when would you use it? during mooring, storage, etc?

Ribtecer · 22 October 2012, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezza2011

Glad your sorted.

Straight from the manual.........

IMPORTANT: Do not rely on the power trim/tilt system or tilt
support lever to maintain proper ground clearance for trailering.
The outboard tilt support lever is not intended to support the
outboard for trailering.

I've seen broken tilt arms and saddles caused by towing the engine on the tilt support arm.

So how do folks support their engines? what is a "tilt support arm" for then?

kerny · 22 October 2012, 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesley

DOH!! Your silly thought was right, I'm an idiot and a first time boat owner if you hadn't guessed. Thanks for saving me a very embarrassing trip to the Yamaha service center..

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