Power Trim/Tilt Addition

How much of a pain in the rear is installing a power trim/tilt assembly on an outboard? (used or replacement OEM part, not a panther or CMC type one) Have a 92 Johnson 40, I’m back to thinking about getting a PTT unit for it (in lieu of a newer/bigger outboard altogether), just wondering how much of a pain it is from anyone out there who has done it. Has that tilt assist cylinder on it now, I see there is a slot in the cover to put the switch on the motor, and the controls have a tilt button on them (I’m assuming I’d need to run a cable from the motor to the control box).

2nd question, how important is a trim guage? I recently completed converting the boat over to a 24 volt system for the new terrova I bought and I don’t know that I could handle another project on this boat this winter if it turns into a BOHICA project like the 24V thing did.

Thanks for any input/advice.

Maybe find a repair or parts manual and see what’s needed and if you have a mounting space for the second ram?

I never had a gauge, you can usually feel when it’s right or use a speedo and tach if you have them.

Al

you won’t need gauges. your ear will tell you.

retrofit?? get a seloc or a clymer and read it over. if it doesn’t scare you, go for it. I can’t see it being too complex, i.e. drilling, tapping, fitting, adjusting.

you may need to grab a harness from a carcass rather than trying to run wires. If you haven’t bought the unit yet, ask for the harness too as a toss-in. 50-50 you’ll get it for nothing.

You will be able to get schematics, parts and prices here http://www.boats.net/

No gauges on my boat. I use GPS to figure best trim speed, listen to RPM, when the boat starts to porpus, watch the bow spray and you can actually feel the difference in 2-3mph in a boat.

I bought a trim/tilt unit years ago from Bass Pro Shop it was a heavy duty unit that I installed on a 40 h.p. Yamaha it was very simple just follow the installation instuctions.I believe back then mid-90’s in was $329 plus tax. hope this helps..

Assuming you can find one, it will involve a bit of work and won’t be the cheapest. Try Twin City Outboard http://www.twincityoutboard.com/ The left side of their home page has a menu bar. Click on trim and tilt and take a look. They have some good info. Like it says on that page “…The amount of work required to change out a tilt motor forces the question; “Is it worth saving a little for a used motor when I may have to do all this work over?”

I would second the suggestion to take it in to Twin Cities Outboard and at least get an estimate. IMO these aftermarket add-ons are almost never as simple as they would seem to be.

Grouse

More research, new line of thinking. Has anyone heard of Powrtran? Website says they are made in Albany MN.

link to what I was looking at:
http://www.powrtran.com/cgi-bin/cart/showdetails.cgi?parts_id=9710

Look similar to a CMC PT130, price in the same neighborhood. I leaning more towards something more like this as it all one contained unit, much easier to install. I won’t be running around looking for this part an that that I need to complete the project (and probably end up costing just as much and be used parts versus brand new).

Anyway, just looking for opinions if anyone can testify to either of the 2 (Powrtran or CMC). The Powrtran is an electro-mechanical lift, which on their website they argue is better than hydrolic (naturally they would), don’t know enough to know one way or the other.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide.

It will cost less to go with aftermarket,rather than with original.Unless you can find a donor motor for next to nothing.I converted a 1990 Evinrude 40 from tiller to remote,I had to change the whole wiring harness($$$$).OMC’s tiller models were factory installed,so there was a lot to change-over.