Power Trim Ram

[WetRaider]

Anybody know the cure for a stripped lift ram? One of my hose fittings (the male fitting is good) won't seat properly because the female threads in the cylinder are stripped. I tried to recut the threads, but even the tool would pop out as I tightened. For now I just set the fitting with blue loctite. Not interested really in spending so much on a used ram that may or may not still need rebuilding.

I had trouble with it leaking last year - the trim pump is not necessarily convenient for refilling constantly.  Suggestions?

[Hyperacme]

Rams for Merc PowerTrim - $35 (Shoreview
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/boa/3186408569.html

[WetRaider]

Thanks, Gregg -
I wouldn't think twice about that price - except what's involved with replacing the piston o-rings.  And of course hoping the threads on them are not stripped like mine.  I sent an e-mail - didn't want to call him this late.

If I sent funds via paypal, anybody in the MPLS area that can pick them up for me and bring them to RedWing?

[David CVX-16]

Dan, that is my ad on Craigslist for the used rams. Many years ago Supreme Motors quoted me $160 to replace the O rings on these two rams. I instead bought a used pair from a Mercury mechanic for $200 that worked.

You should be able to call around for a price to rebuild the rams, and Mercury sells O rings kits for the rams.

Asking $35 on Craigslist and $-0- here under items to sell or barter at Red Wing.

David

[WetRaider]

David - I thought that might be you, wasn't sure.  Got your e-mail.
I don't mind tinkering ... I'd be happy to pick them up at Red Wing, if you'll hold on to them for me.

There's nobody local I could call for the work.  I'd either do it myself or ship them off somewhere.  The local yahoos aren't any better than me trying it out for the first time - only they've got a shop full of tools. 

How long did it usually take for your motor to fall after you raised it?

[Jerry]

I use to work on forklifts. Hyd cylinders aren't all that hard. you might have to find some shim-stock to guide it together. if it's just an external leak that should be easy.

[David CVX-16]

Dan, I'll take the rams off Craigslist and hold them for you. You might call Supreme Marine in Minneapolis for an O'ring kit for the rams. Power Trim rams have two thicknesses of the cylinders, and these are the larger. Rams are off a 1974 115 HP Mercury.

The motor falls quite fast - you can see it gradually fall.

[WetRaider]

Thanks, David.  I'll be swapping them with a '76 115.  I'll work on getting the o-rings.  I'm headed to Red Wing on Thursday - maybe earlier (but staying in Minneapolis until Thursday). 

I'll need the o-rings and a prop nut/tabbed washer set, too.  Maybe a new water pump impeller if I can get help putting it in.

[David CVX-16]

I just called Country View in North Branch. They are sort of a junk yard for used motor parts. They quoted me $225 for a used set of rams that are guarantied and they also fix rams, but did not quote me a price. But the problem with fixing used rams is that the ram cylinders can be scored, which damages the rubber rings as they slide up and down the cylinders.

Before I sold the V-153 the power trim motor gave out. A replacement pump, motor and reserve was usually $500, but I took a chance on e-bay from a place in Florida selling a new unit for $350 and then had to buy a valve body assembly to go on the bottom of the reserve for $50 from Country View. Talk about labor intensive work fixing power trim units, with the electrical, hydraulics, oil, bleeding, and hard to get to places.

[badgercarlson]

Wish I could have found a used valve body assembly about 4 years ago. Had to buy a new assembly from a Merc dealer for something like $300. They wanted even more money for it, but when I said I'd have to look elsewhere, they dropped the price. It was obvious from the condition of the box that the part had been sitting in their inventory a long time.

[Jerry]

This isn't brain surgery. If I can do it anybody can. call these guys. http://www.hydraulicspecialty.com/

[WetRaider]

Yeah - a lot of this work is simply time intensive.  Bugs me the most when I get something put all the way back together only to find out that I missed something or did something wrong and have to take it all apart all over again.

If I can look it up and see what I'm suppose to do - what the finished product should look like at various steps, I can do  it.  I'm not a great cook, but I can follow a mean recipe ... :-)