Battery Configuration and Size

[coldpizza]

Hi Folks,
I have an issue with the port engine, a 2019 Yamaha 200hp. The tilt motor is intermittently not tilting. I have a mechanic checking it out. Sounds like it may be a bad tilt motor. I have had an issue on the same motor a few years ago, the main fuse (20amp) was popping randomly. A new wiring harness was installed under warranty, and had no issues with it for a couple years. In the meantime, I had the dealer that installed the motors, reconfigured the battery set up (and installed new batteries). I have one battery on starboard and two on port. The battery switches allow me to start either motor from either 1 or 2 battery position. That has been working fine for the past year or so. I am using a new mechanic that has come highly recommended by several people. He asked a lot of questions about the problem, if there were any telltale signs like it started slower or similar. He also reviewed the electrical system, from the batteries, to the guages and to the motors. It appears the tilt motor is not working properly. He also said it appeared that my battery cables from the batteries to the Perko switches should be larger. When starting the motor, with cowling off, we could smell faint heat and he said that could be a symptom of the system trying to pull a high load. The cables from the switches are factory (black, can't see sizing) and seem to be larger than the cables from the batteries, which are 4 ga. The pics are to show the factory cable size (black labeled "positive ++++ vs the battery cable sizes (newer red). My question (after this long winded preamble) is does this sound like? At first I thought it did, but as I think abotu it more, I'm not sure. Looking for opinions.
I also wonder if the previous issue popping the 20am main at the same motor, could be related.
Thanks in advance.
Len

 

[seasick]

If the motor does not 'intermittently' crank over when started, I would think that the cables from the battery and switch are fine since the starter draws a lot more current than the trim pump. You could have a defective pump motor and
The problem 2 years ago does not seem related to your present description.
If possible check if the loss of the tilt function occurs on both the control lever as well as the cowling tilt switch. Does the problem occur when tilting up AND down or just one direction?.
This maty be difficult but see if when the tilt fails if you can hear the tilt relay activating

Problems with the helm tilt switch are somewhat common.

 

[coldpizza]

If the motor does not 'intermittently' crank over when started, I would think that the cables from the battery and switch are fine since the starter draws a lot more current than the trim pump. You could have a defective pump motor and
The problem 2 years ago does not seem related to your present description.
If possible check if the loss of the tilt function occurs on both the control lever as well as the cowling tilt switch. Does the problem occur when tilting up AND down or just one direction?.
This maty be difficult but see if when the tilt fails if you can hear the tilt relay activating

Problems with the helm tilt switch are somewhat common.

It happens whether using the tilt at the binnacle or at the cowling. And yes, I hear a faint click but it doesn't tilt. I'm thinking the motor (which is a hydraulic pump maybe?). The mechanic is suggesting recabling with larger, finer thread cable. Not sure it is needed. Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[DennisG01]

Nothing in what you wrote leads me to think the battery cables are the issue. Besides, the smaller cables would be the ones to heat up.

Inspect the connections on the solenoid/relay. Check the other ends of the wires there. Try jumping the solenoid with power to see if that makes the engine tilt. This will help narrow down the possibilities. Although, I would have assumed your mechanic would have already done this?

 

[seasick]

It could be the tilt motor. If you unbolt the two from the pump at the relay you can connect them to a good ground and a good 12V feed. The polarity doesn't mater. One way will run the motor one way and the other way will run the motor in the opposite direction. Do this after you verify that the power connections and the pump connections (including the ground pigtail) are OK.
Try this also: press the tilt switch at the motor. If you hear a click but the motor doesn't run, whack the relay with something a bit heavy (like a wrench or small hammer. I the pump runs, the relay is probably bad. If the pump doesn't run, try whacking the tilt motor. If it starts running, the motor is bad. While working on the tilt motor, I suggest you engage the tilt lock just to be safe.

 

[SkunkBoat]

I agree that any "battery to motor" connection problem would cause starting problems before it would cause Tilt trim problems.

not familiar with your motor but they tend to be similar.

There is probably a fuse panel in the motor and a fuse for the PTT. I would pull it and check for corroded blades.
Probably a relay that controls the PTT Look at that.

The PTT motor has brushes so that could be a problem.

Follow the connection from PTT motor backwards