Mercury Optimax Electric Trim Motor

CJL · 25 January 2005, 12:38

I'm in the process of replacing the trim motor on my 135 Optimax.

It only the electric motor which drives the hydraulic pump to lift the engine. This part failing is quite a regular occurence I'm led to believe. I'm horrified this is a £580 part. My motor shows signs of corrosion around the seals even though the boat is dry stored.

Has anybody managed to get hold of a set of replacement seals and then had the original part re-wound as you would with a starter motor?

Plus I spoke to Jono Garton a while back and he said that you can get hold of a replica part, which is cheaper and a better bit of kit. Does anybody know how to get hold of them?

This last one sounds a better option as my engine is out of warranty anyway.

If you think you can help please drop me a line back.

Chris

Scary Des · 25 January 2005, 13:03

Have a look at the brushes because if it is anything like the one on the Mercury 115 I used to own they will be the problem.

I could not get hold of the right brushes so made some by adapting a set for a different motor. Lucas Autocentre have a good selection and if you take the old ones in they should be able to give you something close then all you have to do is file them to fit.

I can’t remember what the seals were like but generally they are quite easy to make. The whole job shouldn’t take more than an hour or two and cost less than twenty quid. Des

Rogue Wave · 26 January 2005, 13:58

If you can't get it fixed although that is the best option get on the phone and save some bucks

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/sto...tegoryID=62108

theres also someone else called amarket.com

CJL · 05 February 2005, 20:20

Evening all.

I've had a look at my trim/tilt motor today ... all day in fact!

The motor internally was dirty but showed no sign of corrosion inside. I've cleaned it up and reassembled it. When I tried it it worked, but sporadically. Then it cuts out.

I dismantled it again and inspected it. It looked fine. I cleaned the cut out/thermal switch which looked a bit dirty but not that bad.

I then took the next layer down on the motor off. This revealed the top of the pump unit. it had a bit of friction but not too much, suggesting it was pumping fine.

I added a bit of hydraulic fluid into this cup and closed it all back up.

Still no joy. It still was working sporadically.

I`ve put the whole thing back together and surely the following logic must apply.
1) the trim motor, despite appearances it knackered (but it does spin sporadically)
2) the hydraulic pump is not pumping hydraulic fluid (that said it does not race as you'd expect)
3) the whole thing is suffering from an electrically fault which must be some kind of short circuit
4) the hyrdaulic fluid level is low (how do I check this?)

If any body has got any suggestions on any possible remedies I'd be grateful.

Rogue Wave, did you actually use the website your recommending and how long did shipping take?

Many thanks

Chris

Paul F · 05 February 2005, 20:34

I assume you have tried it directly to a battery and not via any relays etc.
Paul

CJL · 05 February 2005, 20:47

No it was through the relays but, you can hear the relays clicking as they are working. Also I`ve tried a big 45w work lamp across the brushes to check the connection. It was bright consistently as I check it and didn't dim or did trip the thermal cut out switch.

Chris

Paul F · 05 February 2005, 20:55

I would be inclined to try it direct from a battery in both up and down and see if it fails, to determine that it is the motor. You only need one of the relays to have an intermitant fault and it will pack up, as both relays need to be ok for it to work.
Paul

CJL · 05 February 2005, 21:02

Cool.

I`ll give it a try tomorrow.

Can a relay fail intermittently?

Thank you very much for your help.

If this don't work I'm gonna set fire to the damn thing! I've never come across such a fiddly job. The people who design these things must have hands small than a childs!

Chris

Paul F · 05 February 2005, 21:09

Yep they can play up, but its worse when its only now and then, better if damn thing gave up ghost completly.
easy for them to fit motor when lump is up in air and can be turned in any direction.
seen them knocking the smaller ones(70s and below)out in their belgium factory.
Paul

CJL · 07 February 2005, 09:57

Problem solved???

Ive had a play with the thermal cut out inside the trim motor. It seems that if you bend it slightly so it requires more heat to open the circuit the whole thing works no problem!

All that work for a half inch bit of metal!

Crazy

C