geeviam Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 I am currently at the ramp. Just got the boat on the trailer, and the atlas Jack Plate is stuck all the way up. The actuator will raise it but does not lower it. Thought it might be a bad switch, so I disconnected the leads and made contact directly. There's a light click but no movement. Only when I make contact on the upward lead. Any ideas? I hate to tow the boat all the way home with the JP all the way up. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 do You usually tow ur motor mostly down. I can’t help on the jackplate but you have to tow with it up then tuck the motor so the load is vertical . I think you would be fine . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 Thanks, good thought. I found a temporary fix. Disconnected the leads in the back compartment near the Jack Plate, and touched them directly to positive and negative from the battery, and I was able to lower the JP. Thanks again 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 Good deal I thought the direct contact had been done in your first post . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2018 Yeah the first direct contact was done on the wires close to the switch. The wires that worked were the ones on the other side of the relay, direct connection to the JP actuator. I guess the relay must be bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted October 25, 2018 Report Share Posted October 25, 2018 5 hours ago, geeviam said: Yeah the first direct contact was done on the wires close to the switch. The wires that worked were the ones on the other side of the relay, direct connection to the JP actuator. I guess the relay must be bad. easy fix..just swap and go....I used to carry one on the water just in case.....5 min to change it out....call a mercury dealer and they should have the solenoid.....usually, bob's will have it to you next day.... As well, remember what the guys at bob's told me....blue sky above, green grass below,...meaning, cross the blue leads JP raises and the green, JP lowers...use a screwdriver with a heavy rubber handle or you get a bit of a jolt.....ask me how I know this dc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROZEN Posted October 25, 2018 Report Share Posted October 25, 2018 Geeviam, i had a similar experience on my PF. I took it a lot farther than you did before I figured it all out. My problem turned out to be the bad red jumper wire between the solenoids. I now carry some precut and crimped wires in the tool bag. http://mbgforum.com/topic/6652-bob’s-jack-plate-pumpmotor-replacement/?tab=comments#comment-54771 Glad it all worked out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2018 Thanks Guys. I'll be adding those things to the spare parts kit. I had recently installed a blinker-style Pro Trim switch on the steering column, so I automatically assumed it was the problem. Disconnected leads and cut wires there first, trying to fix it. Oh well, new lesson learned. Thanks again for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2018 On 10/25/2018 at 3:21 AM, Wanaflatsfish said: easy fix..just swap and go.... Thanks for the advice DC. It was not the switch at the console, or the fuse. It's a bad relay (or connection at the relay). Problem is... Atlas glues/seals the relays and wire connections into a box with an epoxy so you cannot easily swap out the relays with new ones at a cost of about $15 for a pair of relays. Instead you must buy a whole new wiring harness from Atlas for about $170 plus shipping! I've ordered two new 80 AMP relays with sockets, and going to cut apart the Atlas box to see the wiring sequence, and make socket assemblies that will make it easy to swap out relays in the future. I'll post the results, and the wiring sequence here when it's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG RYAN Posted October 28, 2018 Report Share Posted October 28, 2018 On 10/26/2018 at 8:54 PM, geeviam said: Thanks for the advice DC. It was not the switch at the console, or the fuse. It's a bad relay (or connection at the relay). Problem is... Atlas glues/seals the relays and wire connections into a box with an epoxy so you cannot easily swap out the relays with new ones at a cost of about $15 for a pair of relays. Instead you must buy a whole new wiring harness from Atlas for about $170 plus shipping! I've ordered two new 80 AMP relays with sockets, and going to cut apart the Atlas box to see the wiring sequence, and make socket assemblies that will make it easy to swap out relays in the future. I'll post the results, and the wiring sequence here when it's done. Please keep me posted on your progress. Mine sticks up sometimes and usually I can trick it into going back down by bringing it up and immediately switching to the down position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2018 26 minutes ago, CG RYAN said: Please keep me posted on your progress. Mine sticks up sometimes and usually I can trick it into going back down by bringing it up and immediately switching to the down position. Will do. Parts are scheduled to arrive Tuesday. Hope to have it done by the end of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted October 28, 2018 Report Share Posted October 28, 2018 On 10/26/2018 at 9:54 PM, geeviam said: Thanks for the advice DC. It was not the switch at the console, or the fuse. It's a bad relay (or connection at the relay). Problem is... Atlas glues/seals the relays and wire connections into a box with an epoxy so you cannot easily swap out the relays with new ones at a cost of about $15 for a pair of relays. Instead you must buy a whole new wiring harness from Atlas for about $170 plus shipping! I've ordered two new 80 AMP relays with sockets, and going to cut apart the Atlas box to see the wiring sequence, and make socket assemblies that will make it easy to swap out relays in the future. I'll post the results, and the wiring sequence here when it's done. I apologize...i mis read....i was referring to my older Bob's. dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2018 2 minutes ago, Wanaflatsfish said: I apologize...i mis read....i was referring to my older Bob's. dc No apology necessary. I appreciate the help and ideas. Sounds like the Bob's JP is more "parts replacement friendly". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted November 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 The alternative worked out well. One of the Atlas JP relays was faulty. To repair it, you can buy a whole new JP wiring harness for $160 + shipping, which includes two relays (glued/sealed into a plastic box with the wire connections soldered to a PCB), and all new wiring to replace everything up to the switch on the console. I did not want to be locked in to that solution every time a relay fails. After disassembling the paired relay box to document the wiring sequence, I found some good quality relays (Temco) with matching female harness plugs on Ebay. A set of four relays with matching harness was $13.50 including shipping. I installed two on my existing wiring and have two left for spares to keep on the boat. Now, if a relay fails, it can be easily swapped out in 2 minutes on the water instead of the many hours it takes to replace the whole harness at home. The Ebay listing is here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-LOT-TEMCo-12-V-60-80-Amp-Bosch-Style-S-Relay-with-Harness-Socket-Automotive/371393151219?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Here are some pics of the relay, harness and the Atlas wiring color sequence. I just matched the Atlas wire colors to the corresponding wires on the harness and used heat shrink butt connectors and AlumiConn 3-port connectors (awesome product - get at Lowes) to tie everything together. Hope this helps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG RYAN Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 Thanks for the update! Ordering some now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 Geevian, do you have pic of the finished product (wiring connections), the color codes in the diagram don't seem to match the wire colors from the relays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted November 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 On 11/11/2018 at 8:19 AM, SCFD rtrd. said: Geevian, do you have pic of the finished product (wiring connections), the color codes in the diagram don't seem to match the wire colors from the relays. The picture of the wiring in my boat wouldn't help much (not as pretty as other wiring jobs I've seen on this board), but here it is. Also made a diagram matching the wire colors of the Atlas JP to the wire colors on the Temco harness socket. I'm going to cover the seam between my relay and socket with waterproof electrical tape. All other connections are sealed with heat shrink or dielectric gel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 Thanks, that explains everything. Your wiring job looks good to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted November 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 13 minutes ago, SCFD rtrd. said: Thanks, that explains everything. Your wiring job looks good to me. Thanks. I just uploaded a cleaner drawing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted November 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 Pictures of the harness sockets I used. These are the ones my diagram is based on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabear Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 Wire job looks good to me plus if you ever have another faulty relay problem again in the future changing a relay would not end your day . Good job 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 That Is a Great Ideal. Next time mine fails I am going this Route. I carry this Switch in the boat so when one relay fails I can quickly put it in line with the Deutsch connectors and use one rely for both up and down by flipping the switch. Just a save the day tool. I have already replaced one harness. I other problem is I have the older (2012) model and the motor is rusting. Hard to find a dealer with the correct Actuator, and they want a fortune for it. I Have not been able to find just the Parker motor. Maybe I should have a Bobs Machine Shop. They answer the phone and will deal directly with you. No need for a dealer. Their newer models are electric self contained, and every bit as good and I think better than TH Marines Atlas. Their replacement actuators are half the price. By the way, I called TH Marine and their answer was "the newer actuator ( plastic housing motor ) will not fit the older Jack Plate. Buy a New Jack Plate" I Will. And This is the name it will have on it. See Third Pic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Just now, jh141 said: Hard to find a dealer with the correct Actuator, and they want a fortune for it. I Have not been able to find just the Parker motor Have you tried to see if Arco has just the motor? The build/sell all kinds for trim motors and the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 I have looked in their catalog. Did not call them. I will. I use them for trim and tilt motors. They are top notch. TH Marine is now telling me I should be able to use the new actuator ( plastic Motor Housing) with a possible slight modification to accommodate the bolt holding the base of the actuator and the new actuators are available. They still cost about half of what a new jack plate does and that does not include shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mik Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 Love the new idea with the relays. Question - are they large enough for the amps required by the motor? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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