Boat Tilt/Trim

[micahthorlawson]

My Tilt/Trim started moving VERY slow the other day.  Looks like it may be leaking a little hydraulic fluid.  Anyone have any tips on what I can check before taking it in to the shop?  It is 1996 Tracker(Mercury) 115 Hp.  I found an O-ring kit on ebay for it for about $30.  Not sure how difficult it is to "rebuild" or replace all the O-rings.  Or if I can tell if that is the problem. 

[Ski213]

If your leaking fluid that's a problem. Might not be the primary problem though. I'd check fluid level. If it's low add. If that makes a marked difference then I'd start with getting the leaks dealt with. Even if it doesn't, the leak probably needs to be fixed. It's a process of elimination.  Could be a bad electrical connection or the trim motor. Others here are way more qualified to comment  but hopefully that gives you a starting point. 

[WIGuide]

If it's leaking the leak needs to be fixed. I'd be guessing that since there is a leak, it's low on fluid which can cause poor trim performance. You'll need to add some and then possibly bleed the system, but even without bleeding it, you'll know pretty quick if that's the issue. I've never had one apart to rebuild it, but I have had a trim motor start to go out and that also caused slow trim. 

[micahthorlawson]

Thanks all!

 

[Nick B]

A low fluid level could make it move slow, but I had a trim motor go out shortly after it started moving slow.