Outdrive Goes Down, But Not Up - Help

[Just Right]

My 1995 270 DA with 7.4 and B3 has a problem. I store it on the trailer with the outdrive down. I wanted to take to the trailer shop for some mods, but the outdrive would not go up. It responds to the down button and the trailer button, but no hydraulic pump noise and no raise with the up button.

My first thought was a bad electrical connection, but the wire connections at the pump look clean. Yes, the pump has fluid, but I should still hear the pump. While jiggling wires, I did get a brief reaction from the pump so I am thinking it may be a bad internal wire connection or short.

I have two approaches in mind (I am not handy with a multi-tester): replace the pump (drastic), or disconnect a hydraulic line and lift it manually.

Any other ideas?

 

[280 SeaRay]

sounds like your up solenoid may have gone bad. You could swap your up and down solenoid to get the drive up temporarily. I will look in the garage to see if I have any backup solenoids from my last boat (BIII). Considering we are in the same town.... I could drop it off if I have it.

I would not unhook the hydraulic lines... it makes an awful mess....

 

[280 SeaRay]

wait... you say jiggling the wires will get you a upward movement?

 

[StressAweigh]

Did you say the the drive will go up with the trailer swicth if so than one of two things 1st you may have a bad trim swicth on the throttle 2nd you may have a bad drive sensor (they is one on each side on the drive alittle smaller than a hockey puck)

 

[unlvrebel]

Your really should become familiar with a multimeter. The first thing to check would be "is electrical current getting to the intended places". If so, then you can focus on the hydraulic system. If not, the electric system.

I wouldn't just replace the pump to replace the pump...

 

[Salty Dog - LI]

I had the same problem last year. Oudrive down worked on the throttle switch, but not the up. The only way I could get the drive up was with the trailer up switch. My mechanic friend came over and tested the system. The problem was the red device attached on the hydraulic pump that one of the electric wires attaches to. Replace the red part....I think it is an electrical breaker. That's the part that burned out!

The throttle switch up will stop the out drive at the maximum safe height without tearing up the universal joint due to the sensors on the sides of the out drive. The throttle up will raise the out drive beyond that point. Get that breaker replaced!

 

[KC WV]

Are you saying your trailer switch is working fine, but the up button isn't? Could be a bad trim limiting switch on the outdrive. At least it's on the outdrive on the Alphas. Check the trim limiting switch and the wires running from them to the hydraulic pump motor.

But since you said you were going to take the lines loose and lift manually, it sounds like neither the up button or the trailering switches are working. Then I'd say you either have a blown fuse on the pump motor (some models have a fuse for both the up and down circuits), or possibly the up solenoid is bad. I had a solendoid go out on my last boat. Oh-ditto on the multimeter advice above. That how I troubleshot my bad solenoid.

I also would never disconnect the hydraulic lines. It's easier to take the rams off and tie them up with the outdrive rather than cleaning up the mess and having to bleed the system.

 

[89 Searay 200BR]

Is there not a bypass valve on the lift motor to raise the outdrive manually? The Alphas have one.

 

[JJO]

I have the same problem, i have an alpha gen 2 and when i press the up trim on the throttle nothing but when i press the trailer button it raises without a problem. I was told it was a bad trim limiter on the port side of the outdrive. No big deal just have to use trailer button to raise outdrive just becareful not to raise it to far while underway or it
can cause damage. Just wondering where is the manual bypass on the trim motor to raise the outdrive?

 

[Hampton]

Mine used to do this after a prolonged time out of the water. It was the other way around. I would have someone push the button while I stood on the out drive. Together, it went down. After cycling a couple of times, it worked fine.