My 89 272 hatch cover will not lift, when you press the hatch cover switch, it simply clicks as if it were already extended to the max or all the way down.

I was able to lift the hatch manually and pull the connecting pin. With the hatch disengaged from the lift, I pressed the switch again to see what would happen.

The shaft spins 360 like a screw. It just spins in a circle but does not go up or down.

As told to me by the previous owner: When it was operating normally every thing seemed to work fine unless you let it go all the way down, if you were lowing the hatch and it clicked, he told me it would get stuck like this.

I was extremely careful not to put it all the way down each time I used it, but here we are.

Any ideas on whats going on or how to fix it ?

It's fixable. The nut gets caked up with dried lube and dirt and "hangs".

Also, it has to be "anchored" in place so it doesn't spin in order for it to go up or down.

MC

I had the same problem. Bought a new actuator and it did not fix the problem. It turned out to be a weak ground at the switch. Ran a new ground to fix. I have a new 18" Hardin Marine actuator that cost 250 new for sale if needed.

Sent mine back to the mfgr. & they repaired it for $90+/- a few years back

My 311 did the samething and the worm gear stripped. I took it apart and tried to get replacement worm gear and had no luck finding one. Had to replace the whole unit.