Hydraulic cylinder rebuild

[Captndrydock]

I'm looking for suggestions on how to get a trim/tilt hydraulic cylinder re conditioned. I can attempt to do it myself. I have the rebuild kit, but finding the right sized wrench is proving to be a challenge. I cobbled together a makeshift pin wrench but I can't get the nut to budge. I'm wondering if it's more worth while to have a hydraulic repair shop take care of it.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Mc Tool]

I'm looking for suggestions on how to get a trim/tilt hydraulic cylinder re conditioned. I can attempt to do it myself. I have the rebuild kit, but finding the right sized wrench is proving to be a challenge. I cobbled together a makeshift pin wrench but I can't get the nut to budge. I'm wondering if it's more worth while to have a hydraulic repair shop take care of it.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Pin wrenches are one of them things that need to be reasonably stout , any flex will work against you , and you also need to clamp / hold the cylinder really well . You may be better off trying to crack that nut before removing cylinder , and get a bit of garden hose , 2-3 inches long , slice it down one side and put it over the ram shaft coz you dont want any dings it that when the wrench gets away on you
The nut will likely have an o ring around its circumference and they can "stick" . A bit of heat may help but I wouldnt want to get it much hotter than you can hold your hand on it .....so hot air gun rather than gas torch .

 

[Captndrydock]

Pin wrenches are one of them things that need to be reasonably stout , any flex will work against you , and you also need to clamp / hold the cylinder really well . You may be better off trying to crack that nut before removing cylinder , and get a bit of garden hose , 2-3 inches long , slice it down one side and put it over the ram shaft coz you dont want any dings it that when the wrench gets away on you
The nut will likely have an o ring around its circumference and they can "stick" . A bit of heat may help but I wouldnt want to get it much hotter than you can hold your hand on it .....so hot air gun rather than gas torch .

Thanks for the tips, MC. I have a heat gun and will try that. Garden hose too. First I need to find a pin wrench that fits better. I bought a gland nut wrench that hooks to a socket wrench, but the pins weren't the right size. My mistake... So far I haven't found replacement pins that will state the size...

As best I can tell a shop would charge $400, so not gonna do that. Looks like an easy job once the nut is off.

 

[Lou C]

When I did mine, I heated the end of the cylinders with a heat gun but not that hot, because the hydraulic fluid inside is flammable! I left the cyls on the transom mount and had to use my full weight/strength to get the caps to budge. Was able to get both off of a salt water used and moored boat, so it CAN be done. Used a couple of BRP (OMC) rebuild kits for my 1988 Cobra.

 

[Captndrydock]

When I did mine, I heated the end of the cylinders with a heat gun but not that hot, because the hydraulic fluid inside is flammable! I left the cyls on the transom mount and had to use my full weight/strength to get the caps to budge. Was able to get both off of a salt water used and moored boat, so it CAN be done. Used a couple of BRP (OMC) rebuild kits for my 1988 Cobra.

Thanks, I'll try the heat gun

 

[Lou C]

getting off the end caps (not easy)

taking apart the piston and ram rod from a set of freshwater used cylinders I bought to replace all the seals

original cylinders with re-done seals on freshwater used internal parts....
PS
the original OMC seals lasted 36 years before they started to leak!

 

[Nordin]

#Lou C that was a nice work, well done.
T&Ts are often a PIA to deal with, change o-rings and seals can be done if you get it apart.
The pump with all check valves, springs and steel balls is a no no in my opinion.
#Captndrydock good luck with you work.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Hey Lou, Great job and the pics are great too.
He's working on a Force T@T . The parts kits might still be around somewhere(E-Bay last I saw).
And YES!!!! loosen the caps while still on the transom bracket.
I found an O-ring kit from Harbor Freight, it just happened to have the right O-rings I needed.
A company out of Fl. that advertises on E-Bay that sells the pin wrenches.
Be careful if you have to buy from them. Poor communication and they're right no matter what you say. I bought some extra pins from them and 2or 3 were bad and they wouldn't replace them. And whoever handles their e-mails can be a Jerk.

 

[Captndrydock]

Hey Lou, Great job and the pics are great too.
He's working on a Force T@T . The parts kits might still be around somewhere(E-Bay last I saw).
And YES!!!! loosen the caps while still on the transom bracket.
I found an O-ring kit from Harbor Freight, it just happened to have the right O-rings I needed.
A company out of Fl. that advertises on E-Bay that sells the pin wrenches.
Be careful if you have to buy from them. Poor communication and they're right no matter what you say. I bought some extra pins from them and 2or 3 were bad and they wouldn't replace them. And whoever handles their e-mails can be a Jerk.

Thanks Jerry, I'll see if I can find that company. Otherwise I might try to make a wrench that will fit.

 

[Captndrydock]

#Lou C that was a nice work, well done.
T&Ts are often a PIA to deal with, change o-rings and seals can be done if you get it apart.
The pump with all check valves, springs and steel balls is a no no in my opinion.
#Captndrydock good luck with you work.

Thanks Nordin. What pump do you suggest?

 

[Nordin]

Sorry but I do not know what pump you should buy if you have to change it.
Search at Ebay for OEM pumps.
If there are pumps on Ebay and they are Chines made, do not buy them!
Starters for Chrysler/Force and made in China are crap, but cheap.
Do not buy them, rebuild your OEM starter (Prestolite and Bosch).

 

[Captndrydock]

Sorry but I do not know what pump you should buy if you have to change it.
Search at Ebay for OEM pumps.
If there are pumps on Ebay and they are Chines made, do not buy them!
Starters for Chrysler/Force and made in China are crap, but cheap.
Do not buy them, rebuild your OEM starter (Prestolite and Bosch).

No problem, just thought I'd ask. I found a couple of prospective pumps. I'll check to see if they're Chinese made. DB Electric and API. I did find a pin wrench for the tilt cylinder, but it's 85 bucks! Still cheaper than having it rebuilt by a shop.

 

[tg3690]

No problem, just thought I'd ask. I found a couple of prospective pumps. I'll check to see if they're Chinese made. DB Electric and API. I did find a pin wrench for the tilt cylinder, but it's 85 bucks! Still cheaper than having it rebuilt by a shop.

I got this one.....it may be from the company jerry was talking about but I didn't have any issues.

https://www.offshoremarineparts.com...91619utt-tilt-trim-cap-removal-tool-universal

 

[Captndrydock]

No problem, just thought I'd ask. I found a couple of prospective pumps. I'll check to see if they're Chinese made. DB Electric and API. I did find a pin wrench for the tilt cylinder, but it's 85 bucks! Still cheaper than having it rebuilt by a shop.

Sorry but I do not know what pump you should buy if you have to change it.
Search at Ebay for OEM pumps.
If there are pumps on Ebay and they are Chines made, do not buy them!
Starters for Chrysler/Force and made in China are crap, but cheap.
Do not buy them, rebuild your OEM starter (Prestolite and Bosch).

I got this one.....it may be from the company jerry was talking about but I didn't have any issues.

https://www.offshoremarineparts.com...91619utt-tilt-trim-cap-removal-tool-universal

Oh yeah, that would work! It actually has the 4mm pins. Or slightly less at .150". I just bought one like the one you linked, but I mistakenly got the wrong pin diameter. And haven't found the right pin diameter with the wrench. Thanks for the link!

 

[Mc Tool]

View attachment 410679View attachment 410679
getting off the end caps (not easy)
View attachment 410680
taking apart the piston and ram rod from a set of freshwater used cylinders I bought to replace all the seals
View attachment 410681
original cylinders with re-done seals on freshwater used internal parts....
PS
the original OMC seals lasted 36 years before they started to leak!

Thanks Jerry, I'll see if I can find that company. Otherwise I might try to make a wrench that will fit.

there is a guy in Oz , Curtis from " Cutting Edge Engineering " who has done a vid on Y T showing how to make a real good one , might be worth a look

 

[Captndrydock]

there is a guy in Oz , Curtis from " Cutting Edge Engineering " who has done a vid on Y T showing how to make a real good one , might be worth a look

I may have seen it. Drill our a crescent wrench and insert pins? Neat idea.

 

[Mc Tool]

I may have seen it. Drill our a crescent wrench and insert pins? Neat idea.

Nah , It was a scratch built thing , he was using it to dismantle earthmoving machine hydraulic cylinders but modifying a crescent spanner sure is worth looking into.

 

[Captndrydock]

Nah , It was a scratch built thing , he was using it to dismantle earthmoving machine hydraulic cylinders but modifying a crescent spanner sure is worth looking into.

I found something anyway.

 

[jerryjerry05]

"If there are pumps on Ebay and they are Chines made, do not buy them!
Starters for Chrysler/Force and made in China are crap, but cheap."
Trouble is just about anything new is built in China.
If it's rebuildable??? Then use OEM or Factory parts from a Mercury dealer.
Those parts are probably Chinese too but held to a higher standard(better parts),

 

[Captndrydock]

"If there are pumps on Ebay and they are Chines made, do not buy them!
Starters for Chrysler/Force and made in China are crap, but cheap."
Trouble is just about anything new is built in China.
If it's rebuildable??? Then use OEM or Factory parts from a Mercury dealer.
Those parts are probably Chinese too but held to a higher standard(better parts),

Yeah, apparently all aftermarkets that I can find are China made. Or Chinese parts. DB ELectric is based in Tenn though. API (American Products Inc) Based in Fla. uses China parts.

And from what I can tell OEM Mercury parts are also sourced from China. Some may be better quality, but who knows.

5 Star Marine rebuilds pumps with their own specially sourced o rings and seals, maybe that's a better option