Can't bring my outboard back to upright

[AlanM8]

I have a Suzuki 150 4 stroke. I tilted the motor up so I could hook up and flush it and now I can't return it to the upright position. I can only move it up from both the switch on the motor or the switch on the console. I just hear a click when I try the lower motion with both switches.
I'm concerned that the water will not drain when the motor is tilted up and with temperatures close to freezing at night I could be risking big problems.
Can it be lowered manually?
Thanks for any advice.

[seacat47]

Yes there should be a manual release screw valve on left side of motor bracket, turn counter clockwise to release. Sounds like you may have a bad tilt and trim relay.

[Harper]

Before you make the mistake that I did a couple of months ago on my DF150, and go tearing into the electric parts holder to get at the PTT relay, look closely and feel for the trim limiter cam on the clamp bracket shaft. It is held in place only by being mounted loosely on a rubber sleeve, and can easily slide out of position. On mine, it had completely moved to the side and was no longer effective. I could only tilt up, and not go back down. After getting to my relay, and testing it, and getting it all put back together, I found this super-simple fix of merely pushing the limit cam back in place. The only good thing about that day (besides finding that the fix would not cost anything) was that I learned quite a bit about removal and replacement of the PTT relay.

[AlanM8]

Thank you for the great reply. I definitely want to check this out, but I am totally clueless when it comes to outboards. Is there a diagram or parts break down drawing anywhere that would show me where and what I will be looking for? Thanks again. The boat is on a lift so I will be looking from above, in the boat.

[Harper]

The axis that the motor pivots on when you tilt it is called the clamp bracket shaft. I'll see if I can get a photo for you. Also, I'll post a parts diagram showing the parts I'm referring to. Might take an hour or two, since it's been raining lately.

[Harper]

Okay, here's the picture and the diagram. In the picture, the green arrow points to the microswitch and switch actuator lever. The red arrow points out the cam surface that moves the actuator lever when you raise the motor, operating the switch to stop the upward tilt. The cam is adjusted by turning the cam with the little tab that is sticking out to the front in this picture. You're looking at the clamp bracket and shaft with the motor turned all the way to starboard, and looking at it from the right side. The area of the shaft indicated by the blue arrow is where the cam slid off to, when it quit working. I simply slid it back in place, and it hasn't happened again.

The diagram is from the parts catalog, number 14 is the tilt limit cam. By the way, what caused the cam to slip out of place is not clear to me, but it happened when I was bleeding a little air out of the hydraulic steering system. That involved turning the motor fully to the stops in each direction, and holding the cylinder in place with the bleed screw open while a helper turned the wheel. I don't know if I hit the cam while holding the cylinder or what, but it moved out of place without my realizing it at the time. I went through the whole process of removing and testing the PTT relay, before ever thinking to check the cam. The other thing that puzzled me is why it would prevent the motor from going back down. Still doesn't make sense to me.

[AlanM8]

Thank you again for your help. It will be a couple days before I can get back to it, but now I know what to look for.

[Doslocosranch]

Thanks

Okay, here's the picture and the diagram. In the picture, the green arrow points to the microswitch and switch actuator lever. The red arrow points out the cam surface that moves the actuator lever when you raise the motor, operating the switch to stop the upward tilt. The cam is adjusted by turning the cam with the little tab that is sticking out to the front in this picture. You're looking at the clamp bracket and shaft with the motor turned all the way to starboard, and looking at it from the right side. The area of the shaft indicated by the blue arrow is where the cam slid off to, when it quit working. I simply slid it back in place, and it hasn't happened again.

The diagram is from the parts catalog, number 14 is the tilt limit cam. By the way, what caused the cam to slip out of place is not clear to me, but it happened when I was bleeding a little air out of the hydraulic steering system. That involved turning the motor fully to the stops in each direction, and holding the cylinder in place with the bleed screw open while a helper turned the wheel. I don't know if I hit the cam while holding the cylinder or what, but it moved out of place without my realizing it at the time. I went through the whole process of removing and testing the PTT relay, before ever thinking to check the cam. The other thing that puzzled me is why it would prevent the motor from going back down. Still doesn't make sense to me.

Appreciate the tip, found it while searching the internet trying to learn my port engine that would not trim all the way up. Don't know why Suzuki would put this on there but glad it was an easy solve.