Mercury 60hp ELPTO

[2MEKE]

So it's not a 4x4 but it does get towed by one...
Anyway, while out fishing yesterday evening my outboard decided it was sick of the salt water and tilted completely clear of the water not so helpful when you're a wee distance from land.

Is anyone one here an outboard mechanic? Or just very in the know about these things??
Any ideas on what may have gone wrong (or common problems)

[J_Dub]

do you mean it just tilted up by itself??

[2MEKE]

do you mean it just tilted up by itself??

Yeah that's exactly what happened - just happily fishing then out of the blue it tilted all the way up (the pump was continuing to run like the switch was jammed)

I got it to slowly creep back down by standing on the Permatrim then disconected the solenoids to keep it there.

[4WDLUX]

Often its a fault in the trim switch on the motor or the switch in the remote box. Theyv got red blue and green down one side of the powerhead these are the wires for the trim. if you trace them to the switch on the cowling and the other into the loom plug then connect it back up, wait for it to do it again and disconnect each switch to see if it stops. Im a mercury dealer so if you need parts ill look after you.

[Steve_t647]

I agree with the trim switch, on my old jet boat salt water got into the contacts and when we went to shore to have a BBQ, I trimmed up the trim tabs and the during the BBQ the water evaporated and left the salt in the contact, took a little CRC screwdriver and time to get it fixed.

Oh it was a jetboat with trim tabs so ppl could waterski and we didn't bounce up too much in rougher seas and was more controlable for me at slow speed near the jetty well it was my first jetboat and I didn't hit the jetty that often (just pretty hard)

[2MEKE]

Often its a fault in the trim switch on the motor or the switch in the remote box. Theyv got red blue and green down one side of the powerhead these are the wires for the trim. if you trace them to the switch on the cowling and the other into the loom plug then connect it back up, wait for it to do it again and disconnect each switch to see if it stops. Im a mercury dealer so if you need parts ill look after you.

Had a look this evening and suspected as much - good to have it confirmed by someone in the know though.
I'll check tomorrow to see which switch it is for sure ... at least 99% sure ... may just have to take you up on that offer
Also, is it possible to get workshop manuals for these engine - similar to what's available for motor vehicles??

[4WDLUX]

Dont know if you can still get them anymore because theyre all on disc now and havent used books for a while. post up your serial number and ill check

[2MEKE]

OT329099