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Author Topic:   Trim/Tilt "Wrench in Bottle" inquiry

Matt F posted 08-01-2010 07:30 PM ET (US)
Has anyone tried Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak in their power trim/tilt? It appears that my new-to-me 2002 Honda 130 may have a slow leak. It froze in the up position yesterday and required the trim/tilt reservoir to be refilled (after it had just been done a month prior by the mechanic).
I’ve heard that the product is very effective, but I’m concerned that there must be some downside. If it is something that can safely get me through the season, than great. However, I don’t want to do anything that would cause even more extensive repairs later.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Matt

contender posted 08-01-2010 07:55 PM ET (US)
Have it fixed the right way, unless you are trying to sell it and just pass the problem on...
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-01-2010 10:11 PM ET (US)
How many times did your cycle the engine up and down in that
month?
I'm not a big fan of Stop-Leak stuff.
Before I did something like Lucas, I'd top up the the reservoir,
then spray it down with Gunk, and wash the Gunk off. Now
your have the outside of the system clean. Let it sit for a
day with the engine up, and inspect for the leak. A static leak that occurs with engine up should be visible. Now run
the engine down and inspect for the leak. A dynamic leak
that occurs on engine run down MAY be visible. Now run it
up. A dynamic leak that occurs on engine run up MAY be
visible. Now run it up and down several times and inspect
for the leak. A slight dynamic leak MAY be visible. Now
leave it for a day in the down position. A static leak that
occurs in the down position may be visible.
Finally: I'm not sure how a low fluid level would cause it
to get stuck UP. DOWN yes, but not up.

Chuck
Matt F posted 08-02-2010 01:34 PM ET (US)
Chuck:
I would say the motor had been raised and lowered maybe 20 times in the past month.
It froze in the “up” position while at anchor in some reasonably rough conditions. When trying to tilt it back down, you could hear the trim/tilt motor working (not clicking, but rather a sort of whirring) but the motor just didn’t want to move. After some time of trying and not being able to turn the manual release screw, my brother shut off the power the battery. After about five minutes he turned it back on and the engine did in fact lower, but made a screeching noise. We tried it again the next day and it now worked in both directions, but the screeching was God-awful and it went pretty slowly (worse on the way up than down). We checked the reservoir and it took several ounces — once refilled, everything seemed to work better.
Our guess is that turning the power on and off was just happenstance and a sort of red herring (as opposed to the smoking-gun provided in the low fluid reservoir).
I'd be certainly interested to see if someone reads the situation differently.

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Author	Topic: Trim/Tilt "Wrench in Bottle" inquiry
Matt F	posted 08-01-2010 07:30 PM ET (US) Has anyone tried Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak in their power trim/tilt? It appears that my new-to-me 2002 Honda 130 may have a slow leak. It froze in the up position yesterday and required the trim/tilt reservoir to be refilled (after it had just been done a month prior by the mechanic). I’ve heard that the product is very effective, but I’m concerned that there must be some downside. If it is something that can safely get me through the season, than great. However, I don’t want to do anything that would cause even more extensive repairs later. Any insight is greatly appreciated. Matt
contender	posted 08-01-2010 07:55 PM ET (US) Have it fixed the right way, unless you are trying to sell it and just pass the problem on...
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-01-2010 10:11 PM ET (US) How many times did your cycle the engine up and down in that month? I'm not a big fan of Stop-Leak stuff. Before I did something like Lucas, I'd top up the the reservoir, then spray it down with Gunk, and wash the Gunk off. Now your have the outside of the system clean. Let it sit for a day with the engine up, and inspect for the leak. A static leak that occurs with engine up should be visible. Now run the engine down and inspect for the leak. A dynamic leak that occurs on engine run down MAY be visible. Now run it up. A dynamic leak that occurs on engine run up MAY be visible. Now run it up and down several times and inspect for the leak. A slight dynamic leak MAY be visible. Now leave it for a day in the down position. A static leak that occurs in the down position may be visible. Finally: I'm not sure how a low fluid level would cause it to get stuck UP. DOWN yes, but not up. Chuck
Matt F	posted 08-02-2010 01:34 PM ET (US) Chuck: I would say the motor had been raised and lowered maybe 20 times in the past month. It froze in the “up” position while at anchor in some reasonably rough conditions. When trying to tilt it back down, you could hear the trim/tilt motor working (not clicking, but rather a sort of whirring) but the motor just didn’t want to move. After some time of trying and not being able to turn the manual release screw, my brother shut off the power the battery. After about five minutes he turned it back on and the engine did in fact lower, but made a screeching noise. We tried it again the next day and it now worked in both directions, but the screeching was God-awful and it went pretty slowly (worse on the way up than down). We checked the reservoir and it took several ounces — once refilled, everything seemed to work better. Our guess is that turning the power on and off was just happenstance and a sort of red herring (as opposed to the smoking-gun provided in the low fluid reservoir). I'd be certainly interested to see if someone reads the situation differently.