1968 tilt/trim leaking by

[meantobe63]

1968 Glasspar with single solenoid Prestolite pump. Bought boat without a drive on it. Installed one off a 1969 (same setup). Boat sits super low on trailer so when running on hose 2 nights ago, I'd try and keep skeg about 2" off the ground but it would leak down within 30 seconds. I put the trim cylinder "trailering clips" over the rams and left it alone. Took it out to the lake for first time last night and when I went to trim up to remove the clips, I was surprised that it didn't need but a second and clips were loose. Ran boat and obviously with a leak like that ( while going forward) drive wouldn't trim up. With those symptoms, can I blame it on one thing (cylinders) or could that also potentially be a pump issue? There are no external leaks that I can see. I know everyone says to get rid of that pump setup anyways but would like to fix the leak problem first.

Thank you.

 

[Scott Danforth]

hydraulic seals in the rams probably needed replacing 25 years ago.

 

[meantobe63]

hydraulic seals in the rams probably needed replacing 25 years ago.

Thanks. Easy to rebuild or not worth the hastle?

 

[Scott Danforth]

if they come apart ok, very easy to rebuild. basically glorified o-rings.

if they dont come apart due to corrosion, etc. new cylinders will be needed.

 

[ROY WILLIAMS]

SEALER OIL FILTER ADD! 4oz!

 

[kenny nunez]

How many hoses are on the rams?

 

[meantobe63]

if they come apart ok, very easy to rebuild. basically glorified o-rings.

if they dont come apart due to corrosion, etc. new cylinders will be needed.

Thanks. I'll take apart the set on my other boat and try those out for rebuild. Some websites show the 1969 and older cylinders take a different rebuild kit than the newer ones while others say same kit for "Mercruiser R/MR/Alpha one (gen I and II), and Bravo" I know the cylinders changed their look in late 80's or whatever and a GEN II didn't come out until like 1991 or something, but maybe internals never changed??

Thanks for the help

​

 

[meantobe63]

How many hoses are on the rams?

2 on each. The style bell housing where you can't see the ends of the hose from the outside of the boat. Which sucks, because those are definitely ready to start leaking by the looks of it.

 

[meantobe63]

SEALER OIL FILTER ADD! 4oz!

I don't know what that means. Picture or description?

 

[Scott Danforth]

I buy my rebuild kits from five star

 

[kenny nunez]

If you raise the drive all the way up does it stay or does it slowly go back down?

 

[meantobe63]

Looks like the 1967-69 cylinders are obsolete and no rebuild kits listed for them on Mercruiser parts website. Just took one apart, a lot of orings and springs etc.