97 c60 Trim and Tilt - Slow to none

[lcaudell]

Last fall I noticed the engine tilt rising rather slowly. This year it wouldn't rise at after winter storage. It does lift a bit, if I bounce on it. Fluid under screw is to the top. It gurgles when trying to raize normally, and when I turn the manual release screw. The questions I have are. Can fluid levels be filled from another location, other than the flat top screw on top of the bracket?
How do you bleed this unit, and how do you eliminate the electric motor from the equation? Please be specific, saying "could be all" is not worth reading.

[boats.net]

Need to turn manual release screw to lift it by hand, raise to full up position, refill with fluid and let it down and back up by hand, recheck fluid level. May have to repeat couple of times to get all air out.