Yamaha 350’s on 2014 Express 330

[captjwm]

I have a situation where both power tilt motors have stopped working at the same time. This occurred about a week after changing out the batteries. My Yamaha certified mechanics have isolated the problem to the tilt motors and have stated that both motors are received the correct voltage but the motors are not working. The engines are covered by the Yamaha SES warranty until late 2020 and the tilt motors are covered. We are now for Yamaha to approve the warranty claim. I just find it strange that both motors would fail at the same time and am wondering if anyone on the forum has had a similar experience? Could it be something else causing the problem?

 

[Halfhitch]

I am with you in being suspicious that both motors dying at the exact same time seems a little far-fetched. The fact that a certified Yamaha tech checked it and says it's so does give credence to it but a placard on a persons wall doesn't prove one is a genius. What I am getting is that the rocker switch on the binnacle gets not action whether activating one motor at a time or hitting the both function if available and the motors also don't respond by using the switch on the cowl of each motor. The techs say they have 12v DC at the motors but I have to wonder if they grounded their multimeter by getting into the ground wire itself going to the motors, or did they just find a handy place to hit ground like an anode bolt or such. This could be a simple grounding issue. A certified tech knows that better than I but does he only have the placard on his wall or does he have experience that's the $64,000 question. That is all just conjecture on my part but if Yamaha does go for replacement without further testing, at least after the lost time on the boat, at least you know you have a new start on those components.

 

[family affair]

X2 for grounding. I have seen 12v before at a bad contact, but the contact couldn't handle the current draw.

 

[Mr.crab]

Had one motor tilt stop working, when I moved my motors from one boat to another it stop working.
When I tested the battery cable at the motor it was 12 volt, but behind those lugs there are another set
that the ground came loose. Hard to see,year motors 2016

 

[seasick]

Can you confirm that the tilt stopped working using either the helm switch or the cowl switch? I assume that the motors could be started and run when the tilt stopped working. If so, I am at a loss as to what would cause both to fail at the same time but the fact that it occurred after swapping the batteries may be a clue. Did you perhaps leave off a negative connection or jumper when the batteries were changed?

 

[captjwm]

The tilt system stopped working while I was underway. Neither rocker switch on either engine will operate the tilt. That was the first check when they stopped working at the helm unit. You can hear the click of the relay, but the motors don't operate. Both engines start and stop without flawlessly; only the tilt is out of service.

 

[Fishtales]

Very strange. I've had an occasional binnacle switch issue, but never on both and the motor switch always worked. I don't believe there is more than one electrical power feed to the engine (could be different on the F350 though). There is a rectifier that can be damaged in some motors if the batteries are connected incorrectly. Could this have occurred?

Here is a link to a thread. Looks like a trim limit switch was this guys issue. https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/606944-yamaha-f350-trim-problem-please-help.html

 

[captjwm]

Just realized I never followed up on my original post. As it turned out, both tilt motors did in fact fail at the same time. Both were replaced (under warranty) and life returned to normal.

 

[seasick]

I would have lost that bet! Talk about quality control.