Trim/tilt ram seal failure?

further

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In the process of putting my outdrive back on the boat today (after re-finishing, etc) I was putting the trim/tilt pin in starting on the port side, got it through the outdrive and found that the starboard side ram was out a bit further and not lining up. Went to grab something in the garage and came back to find the ram out even further. Seems like I hit something or caused something in the ram to give way and not hold. I'm not seeing any fluid or leaking of any kind. Doesn't look like the rams have ever been touched in its 20 year life but can't be sure. Does this mean the ram blew a seal and needs to be rebuilt? Or something else? Reading through my manual, these look to be serviceable so anyone have a source on a rebuild kit? And finally, anyone rebuild these? Difficult?
Here's a pic

Thanks in advance....
 

dypcdiver

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Just normal, fluid from one ram runs into the other. Press the extended one and the other will extend.
 

further

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Just normal, fluid from one ram runs into the other. Press the extended one and the other will extend.

Wish it was that easy. I pushed in on the extended and pulled out on other.... Won't budge. They were both at the same distance out (equal to the port side one) for months over winter....
 

further

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Not really familiar with all the details of this system but would I maybe have to relieve some pressure at the pump?
 

Bondo

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Naw, just run it down til they both suck in,...
 

jerryjerry05

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WD-40 or any oil on the rams.
The rams have a seal that keeps the oil in.
The residue washes away real quick .
Nobody lubes the stainless ram and the seals can seize and lock the rams.
WD-40 or white lithium on the rams.
 

further

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WD-40 or any oil on the rams.
The rams have a seal that keeps the oil in.
The residue washes away real quick .
Nobody lubes the stainless ram and the seals can seize and lock the rams.
WD-40 or white lithium on the rams.


The rams aren't seized. There is no oil or any other lubricant on the rams at all. The issue is not that they don't move, It's that the starboard side has come out further than the port.... They were both equal in distance yesterday morning before I started putting it all back together.
 

Bondo

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Ayuh,.... Hook 'em back up to the drive, 'n they'll be equal again,....
 

further

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Ayuh,.... Hook 'em back up to the drive, 'n they'll be equal again,....


Yeah, I'm just havin a brain fart as to how to hook them up when they're uneven like they are.... Until you said to trim them in, lol. So tonight, I'll get the batteries out from the basement, hook em up, trim it in all the way to suck the rams in and hook up the drive. Hopefully that'll work.
Thanks
 

further

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Thanks for the help fellas! Hooked up the battery and trimmed to where I needed to get the pin through. All good!
 
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