Author Topic: Trim Problems (Read 14451 times)

Jason · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2012, 07:31:17 PM »

Can't you disconnect the lines on the rams and move them by hand to see if there is a major resistance?

wexrocks · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2012, 08:21:45 PM »

Quote from: 74GlasCarlSS on May 30, 2012, 07:31:17 PM

Can't you disconnect the lines on the rams and move them by hand to see if there is a major resistance?

He did, the rams drop freely. here are my only long-reach thoughts... you've recently had the motor out, and the drive off. is it possible there is a pinched line between the rams and the pump? or possibly debris in a line? I know either would be hard to determine. what if you unhook the lines at the rams AND the pump, then see if you can blow air thru freely. I know, pain in the...

Shrom CVX-18 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2012, 08:38:58 PM »

Quote from: wexrocks on May 30, 2012, 08:21:45 PM

Quote from: 74GlasCarlSS on May 30, 2012, 07:31:17 PM
Can't you disconnect the lines on the rams and move them by hand to see if there is a major resistance?

He did, the rams drop freely. here are my only long-reach thoughts... you've recently had the motor out, and the drive off. is it possible there is a pinched line between the rams and the pump? or possibly debris in a line? I know either would be hard to determine. what if you unhook the lines at the rams AND the pump, then see if you can blow air thru freely. I know, pain in the...

I considered a pinched line, to test that I removed the lines from the junction box at the bottom of the gimble housing(Outside of boat) So the lines from the rams were completely disconnected. At that point I had a friend press each button (trim up and trim down.) fluid came out each hole as they should with a good stream of pressure.
That is when I kinda rolled out the rams being bad also cause I can lift the outdrive by hand with no troubles. Everything seemed free.
Now I was thinking about it more today and had a extra pump laying around, So I swapped the pump with the extra, But The junction box on the bottom of the extra pump was different then the one that is on my boat. so I had to switch them for the lines to hook up correctly..after looking more at the mercrusier manual I read that, that juction box houses at check valve that is a key as far as leaving fluid back through to the pump. I did take that check valve out once to make sure it seemed clean but I think tomorrow I will do it again. Maybe even take it out completely just as a test as to what happens.

Retro Performance · « **Reply #23 on:** May 30, 2012, 08:51:25 PM »

You could try calling Mercruiser Consumer Technical Service, over the years I have found the dealer tech lines in Fond du lac and stillwater very helpfull. 1-920-929-5000 is the main switchboard...then just ask for consumer technical service.

wexrocks · « **Reply #24 on:** May 30, 2012, 10:03:59 PM »

oooohh, Mercruiser tech line... now there's a number I could put on speed dial!

Shrom, I applaud you, you have analized the crap out of this, and exhausted every possibility before asking for help. here's an even longer shot than the ideas you just blew holes in...

when I had problems with my brakes on my SUV (same style hydraulic lines) I learned something new. when hydraulic brake lines break down internally, they fray apart in a fan style. the pump creates more pressure than the relief does, so, it is possible (slightly) that the lines are breaking down internally and fanning out creating back pressure on the relief (down) stroke. couldn't figure out why my brakes were sticking, turned out the inside of the lines were holding pressure. worked fine when on the pedal, but would hold pressure and keep the pads engaged when off the pedal. only way to test that would be to unhook the lines at the pump and rams, then check flow both ways. I just don't want to see you replace pump, then lines, then rams, then check valves, and so on, trying to fix it. just guessing again...

Shrom CVX-18 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:26:10 PM »

I may have to call that tech line. Wex, i did think of that but un-sure the best way of testing that would be. I found an interesting thing today, I pulled each ram off the end of the outdrive one at a time then to see what happens when just one cylinder is doing the work...it seems to go down at a faster rate(still not as fast as it should be) then when both are hooked up.. not sure if this is saying my rams are just possibly on the verge of being bad. and thats the problem..so many thoughts are going through my head at this point.

Burnin Daylight · « **Reply #26 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:44:58 PM »

Breath in, breath out.

Jason · « **Reply #27 on:** June 01, 2012, 06:39:44 AM »

If your lines are older you should replace those anyway. Having those break on the water is never fun. I have seen the problem in brake hoses too. It will hold in pressure against the caliper and cause your brakes to stick.

Shrom CVX-18 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 01, 2012, 07:58:17 PM »

Quote from: 74GlasCarlSS on June 01, 2012, 06:39:44 AM

If your lines are older you should replace those anyway. Having those break on the water is never fun. I have seen the problem in brake hoses too. It will hold in pressure against the caliper and cause your brakes to stick.

I like that Idea and agree, they are most likely going to go sooner rather then later so why not change them out, rolling that out as the problem. Why the luck I have been having I'm sure they would go at the worst time.
I picked some up today and plan to hopefully get to it this weekend if the weather every gets nice. Seems that when I want to work on it or have time to it rains. My jeep has the garage spot. Plus I would have to move a bunch of junk just to get the boat in anyway

Jason · « **Reply #29 on:** June 01, 2012, 10:42:43 PM »

It happened to me. It's not fun pulling a boat out with no power trim, or trailering it. Plus all the oil goes into the water....not good. let us know how it turns out.

Tonka Jim · « **Reply #30 on:** June 06, 2012, 06:54:56 AM »

** Brain *Censored* **

Maybe somehow the up/down lines were switched & someone reversed the wiring to compensate.

What do you think Rich?

Jerry · « **Reply #31 on:** June 06, 2012, 07:26:40 AM »

different fittings on up and down.
I saw your son Saturday at the fish fry. where were you?

Shrom CVX-18 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 06, 2012, 04:00:30 PM »

Quote from: Tonka Jim on June 06, 2012, 06:54:56 AM

** Brain *Censored* **

Maybe somehow the up/down lines were switched & someone reversed the wiring to compensate.

What do you think Rich?

I would consider that, however I have owned this boat for a couples years now and Last year right before I put it away the trim worked great.. I have eliminated a bunch of ideas that could be the problem by running many tests. Wex gave me a good set of rams to try and see if they would work. (seeing if mine are bad) Sure enough the pump ran the rams up and down, Those rams he gave me were a larger style(all around beefer) so they did not run up and down as fast as the orinigal smaller rams. But with that done I come to realize that it must be the rams that are bad. So I ordered a new set and they are on there way. Will not be 100% on the fix untill I get them on and see it run up and down like it should.. Seems like I fix one problem another shows up

But good new about that is soon enough the boat will be new again.

Shrom CVX-18 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:05:45 PM »

After all that work and testing things, I bought new Rams and put them on today. Problem solved!

Now I just need to run the drive up and down a few time to bleed the system once in the water. (My trailer is too low to be able to run the drive all the way down.)

dorelse · « **Reply #34 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:09:08 PM »

Congrats on getting your issues fixed!

Shrom CVX-18 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 07, 2012, 07:12:09 PM »

Quote from: dorelse on June 07, 2012, 06:09:08 PM

Congrats on getting your issues fixed!

Thanks! I really need to start working on my boat earlier before the season. I could have been out plenty of times.

Jason · « **Reply #36 on:** June 07, 2012, 08:58:39 PM »

Awesome. Nice work. At least now you are a power trim expert!

CVX Fever · « **Reply #37 on:** June 07, 2012, 09:00:23 PM »

Hey Shrom at least your working on yours. I haven't even pulled the cover off mine! Hope the boat runs good for you the rest of the season, you derserve it!

David CVX-16 · « **Reply #38 on:** June 07, 2012, 09:09:45 PM »

Side question - what lubricant does power trim units take? ATF, power steering fluid, power brake fluid, or a thin engine oil?

I am putting in a new power trim motor in the Glastron V-153 and bought Quicksilver Power Trim fluid for $6.00 for 8 oz., but the plastic container said that ATF could be used also - and alot cheaper.

Rich_V174SS · « **Reply #39 on:** June 07, 2012, 10:30:34 PM »

The Quicksilver Power Trim fluid is fine, or you can use ATF or power steering fluid.