Suzuki Limit Switch problem

[Don B]

While in the slip I leave the Suzuki 50 HP tilted up. On Saturday I tried to tip it down as usual and only heard a click sound.

Thinking the switch went bad I tried the switch on the engine itself and still only got a click.

I pressed "up" and heard the normal sound of the tilt mechanism when it is at the limit of travel.

But every time I pressed "down" I heard click only.

I also checked to make sure the "Over the road" mechanical stop was not engaged.

In addition I switched to other battery bank, tapped on tilt motor, and wiggled the wires leading into the tilt motor and nothing worked.

I finally leaned my full weight out over the engine and by pressing the tilt down I got the engine to tilt down like it normally does.

Anybody have an idea what is going on ?

I am guessing I have a faulty limit switch.

-Don B

[dclark]

I have the same motor. But I've never had that problem so I don't think I can be of much help other then to say your diagnosis is about my best guess as well. Either something in the swutch or possibly the hydralic mechanism itself.

Once you got it down would it come back up?

[Don B]

Yes, It came up fine and went down fine after that initial freeze. But.... I did not raise it any higher than I had to to get the prop out of the water to protect it from Marine life and corrosion.

-Don B

[Frank C]

Mine might be a completely unrelated problem, but a warning to all. Just remember that that the lift cylinder is pressurized in both directions, so it needs fluid supply in both directions. Make sure your hydro-oil fluid reservoir is full, and be sure the fill-cap is screwed down tightly. In my case the dealer had filled the brand new motor with fluids, but left that cap less than finger-tight.

I had a problem one day while sailing, an unfamiliar noise from the tilt mechanism while raising the motor for sailing. Upon looking later, I noted that the motor had fallen back down of its own accord. Funny noises again when raising it.

Finally at the ramp, I raised the motor, trailered the boat and pulled up the ramp to wild yelling from the ramp crowd. The motor had fallen to vertical again, and the motor skeg had scraped loudly and damagingly along the very rough concrete ramp. The skeg was now half-sized, with a ragged fracture of the cast aluminum where it had been broken.

There was a light sheen of oil on the draining water, and at water's edge. WTF ??!! After months of happy sailing with new boat and motor, the fluid reservoir had finally leaked enough oil that air got into the lifting system, allowing the motor to slowly fall vertical each time it was raised. It never even occured to me that the lifting-oil supply existed, and the owner's manual is silent on the topic. I questioned the Mac dealer (who was the installing dealer) but after six months or so, responsiblilty wasn't really clear-cut.

The angry, raw appearance of that skeg on a brandy-new, $8,000 motor was disheartening to say the least. It remains just as raw, but just kinda sad-looking anymore. Check your hydraulic oil level each year!

[Mark Prouty]

Check your hydraulic oil level each year!

Paul S.
Are you listening. Your dealer hasn't done this one yet!!

Didn't your motor see that part of the MacGregor video that says the skeg clears with the motor down?

Hey wait a minute. Thats right. That can't happen to a Mac. That was the other guys boat.