I am trying to figure this out...Help?

[ARHammond]

I have 19' Hammond with a 3.8 OMC Stinger Drive. The front motor mounts appear to have cylinders that go to a pump on the rear of the engine. Is this the trim? Does it actually raise the front of the engine? You can push down on the stern drive and the front of the engine will rise. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[QC]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

The front motor mounts appear to have cylinders that go to a pump on the rear of the engine. Is this the trim?

Yes, stringer trim adjustments are accomplished by height adjustment of the front motor mounts. One of their design principles was no solid contact between the drive and the transom, this allows trim to be handled this way . . .

 

[ARHammond]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

Thanks for the quick reply! Should the engine lift when I push the stern drive down?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

It's an interesting concept. The rams you see are operated hydraulically. If you can move the engine when pushing on the out drive, it's probably low on fluid. This should be pretty solid. If it's lower on fuild, then you have a leak some where.

 

[ARHammond]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

Thanks! So the next problem and hopefully a solution. When I notice the engine lifting in the front I was out on the water doing a test run (project boat). When the engine lifted, I thought the engine was not mounted down in the front when I got back to the house the engine looked like it was "loose". The bolts were not all the in. So went to tighten them and the wood that they mount to is rotted. I have since removed the engine and drive, cut the fiberglass that is over the wood and removed one wood mount.
Here is he plan; the stingers are solid so what I am suggesting is build a motor mount out of 1/4 plate and attach it to the stinger (see attachment). Now I am thinking the stinger is a 2X4, can I or should I drill all the way through the stinger and hull and run grade 8 bolts through or should I use 1.5" lag bolts to attach it? I think the 1.5" lags (6-8 on each stringer) would work but I just do not want ever do this again. Also I planning on fiber glassing studs in the floor to attach to. This is quite a bit stronget than the originals which were 1X4 brad nailed together. Any thoughts on this? Thanks again Paul

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

I did use angle iron to make a frame once to reinforce the motor mounts under my 454 in a 26 Cruisers I was selling- The stringers were open on both sides so I bolted through them and it worked like a charm -I also did some f/g work - but with the angle, it was the tidiest thing ever - wish i had taken pics. The buyers surveyor was impressed. It was scary how Cruisers Inc had mounted this engine- how it didn't rip itself right out of the floor in the first 20 years of it's life was beyond me - it was scary - I had been pounding 4 foot waves for years in that boat.

don't go through the hull as you were suggesting.

If your trim rams are leaking, reseal them before doing anything - the trim oil will saturate the stringers and destroy them. eBay has trim seal kits for 1/2 dealer pricing. item 130124717714

 

[Manipulator]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

Been there done that. I was having the same problem as far as the motor lifting, it was the rams in my case (both leaked). Not enough fluid in them to hold the motor when letting off the throttle or getting on it. My trim gauge was acting screwy and now I know why. The drag of the lake would pull the whole motor up when coming off plane. I also had maybe one lag on each side holding the mounts in. The oil got into the stringers and trashed them. I thought about doing what you are suggesting but the way my stringers were formed I'm not sure it would work on my boat. I had a recess on the side of my stringer that had a block attached to it, half the mount was on the stringer and the other half on the wood block on the recess. Real pain to fix all this but I managed to do it. Also rebuilt the rams. Have pics if you would like to see before and after.

 

[ARHammond]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

Been there done that. I was having the same problem as far as the motor lifting, it was the rams in my case (both leaked). Not enough fluid in them to hold the motor when letting off the throttle or getting on it. My trim gauge was acting screwy and now I know why. The drag of the lake would pull the whole motor up when coming off plane. I also had maybe one lag on each side holding the mounts in. The oil got into the stringers and trashed them. I thought about doing what you are suggesting but the way my stringers were formed I'm not sure it would work on my boat. I had a recess on the side of my stringer that had a block attached to it, half the mount was on the stringer and the other half on the wood block on the recess. Real pain to fix all this but I managed to do it. Also rebuilt the rams. Have pics if you would like to see before and after.

I would love to see pictures!

 

[ARHammond]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

Thanks for the link, I will check them tonight and rebuild if they need it.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

After.....

Now I have four bolts holding the mount down instead of the factory three.

 

[ARHammond]

Re: I am trying to figure this out...Help?

Thanks for the pictures! I will post some for you guys tonight.