posted 05-09-2005 12:47 PM ET (US)     

The fact that the pump worked going down eliminated the pump as a problem. This was really good news, because they are ridiculously expensive. I next swapped the up/down relays to narrow the focus as to where the problem was located. Same problem, the t/t worked down but not up. This means the relay was fine. All along I used the remote switch on the binnacle and the switch on the cowling. This eliminated the switches as the problem. This is where I got stuck.

A call to my local mobile marine repairman friend and I had it fixed in less than 5 minutes for free. He said the OMCs have a limit switch on the up cycle of the t/t. They are common problems and are usually unnecessary. They are located just at the tilt tube under the cowling. I followed the leads (both are blue/white stripe) into the cowling where they lead up the UP relay. There they are connected by way of bullet connectors. I just unplugged them from the limit switch and connected them directly to each other, thereby bypassing the switch. Voila!

My mechanic buddy said, it can be a huge source of repair dollars for the unsuspecting owner and a less than ethical repairman. In fact, he said it's sort of a joke among repairshops. "Let the boater beware!"