1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

[Jdiraff]

Anyone have a part number or link for the seal kit required to fix a leak on my 1998 force trim motor.
Its leaking milky pink from the bottom of the motor, but I imagine it would make sense to replace all seals since i am removing it.

At this time, the motor is still working fine.
I also see some after market motors...for only 165 on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270763710489?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Any thoughts on replacing the seal or just replacing the motor ?

Thanks

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

I would try replacing the seal first. Hopefully water hasn't leaked in and caused a problem.

Mercury, Mercruiser, Force, etc. - POWER TRIM COMPONENTS - FORCE 120 H.P. (1998-1999)

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

Pink sounds like ATF. You sure it's the motor and not the pump/valve body?

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

milky pink is water in fluid. water enters from either top seal of ram or top half of motor.

You live in a cold area. this is a serious problem for you. Your system will split like a pipe if you get a winter freeze that is cold enough to freeze the water. You need to take system off boat and find the source of water leak. You need to flush and refill the system in order to remove all water.

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

It's the motor
Mine look like a cylinder sitting on the reservoir, which is square.
I am thinking its that square seal on the schematic, but I have been told those going are rare and it is almost always a cracked resevoir

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

The sweep on the piston is starting to come off...Is that the Ram ?
Do you think that's where it is coming from ? The water caused high pressure and when I trimmed down, the reservoir cracked ?

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

post a pic of the rod wiper.

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

Pic of the assembly and the wiper attached

The leak was more like a gush , pouring from what appears to be the area around the base of the reservoir.
I only had the boat in the water once this season, right before the leak, or gush started . I although maybe water entered from running on muffs a 5 or 6 times over the winter
The boat has been garaged since October

Whatayathink ?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

thanks

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

the rod wiper has to be replaced, no question about that.
somebody spray painted the system so it is difficult to guess how much or little galvanic corrosion is on the motor.

my overall guess would be that water entered the system through top of ram and your system. The water plus the oil made your system "overfull". When you lowered the engine the reservoir cracked from internal pressure. You need to remove motor from system and carefully inspect reservoir for any cracks. You need to rebuild ram housing asap. whether or not there is any other damage depends upon result of reservoir inspection.

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

Thanks
I can t seem to find the wiper part #. Is that included in the o ring seal kit.
Also, is there a possibility that the pressure caused just the gasket at the base of the reservoir to break, and not the reservoir itself ? Or is that wishful thinking on my part ?

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

i don't know if Mercury sells a seal kit. I used to on ebay but stopped due to pump. Back then the failure rate on pump/manifold rebuild was about 20% and it was a royal PITA to hook up motors and pressure gauges to test every single pump. The 1989-2003 rocker arm is a finicky little thing. That was back before I made a bunch of specialized tools with my trusty lathe and dremel. Now failure is pretty uncommon. I'm considering relisting a rebuild kit on ebay this season. It won't be cheap because the pump/manifold is still tedious and expensive to rebuild. If I just sent parts then we would be looking at a 30-50% failure rate, which is unacceptable. So the kit would have to include a rebuilt pump assy.

But I ramble. the top seals are industrial standards AN04 (urethane), 209 (buna70), and 133 (buna70). grainger, fastenal, oring-depot, etc

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

RRitt -

Well, you were right. Huge crack in the reservoir on the back.
I can get an aftermarket motor on Amazon for about 138 bucks, but do you know where I can quickly get the seals for the piston (especially the wiper)
Also wondering how difficult it is to put new seals in the ram? I believe you said I could probably do the above without having to remove the entire assembly ?

Jeff

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

no. i don't know any easy answer on seals. I think mercury discontinued their kit. and if you start hunting parts then you have to make sure to get right materials for interior and exterior. i'll check sunday morning and see if I have any of the old instruction sheets laying around. I have hundreds of every seal needed for almost any domestic system ... but without instructions they aren't much help. pm me and i'll get back to you.

 

[Jdiraff]

Re: 1998 Force 120 just started Leaking Trim Motor Fluid

Wanted to provide an update since everyone has been very helpful.
Replaced the cracked trim motor with a very reasonably priced aftermarket system I purchased on Amazon. ( At $108.00, the motor was less expensive than other aftermarket options )
Also replaced all of the seals ($20.00) in the Ram ( Piston, cylinder, what ever you want to call it ) . Piston looked a little beat up inside from salt water leaking though the wiper seal, but I was able to clean it up good before reassembly.
With some extremely helpful advice from everyone, the entire project took approx 3 hours, at a cost of $158 in parts including shipping
Trim seems to function fine now, no leaks....motor is humming with no RPM jumps or strange rattling at higher RPMs.
Taking her out this Sat !
Thanks!