If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

[Rusty boat]

Hello everyone i hope someone can help me, this is going to be a lenghty story, youll laugh your cry, youll be glad your not me.ok i have a 1979 grady white 212 chesapeak with a 250 cid straight six and a mercruiser outdrive. i purchased this boat off ebay about 2 1/2 years ago and have just now got the thing close to the water. i thought i was doing good cause this was my first boat, and got a great deal on it, thats where the fun ends, got it home motor was stuck, so i finally replaced the motor, during this process i found i have transom rot, going to live with it now but will have to do something very soon,finally found a windshield and replaced it,now for the real problems, trim pump was shot also "along with everthing else ive looked at on this boat" so i replaced the motor and checked the pump assembly ,it was in good condition, so i got the trim to work bled the system and went to the lake the other day to test the outdrive and set the timing and adjust the carb, yes i still dont know if the outdrive is good. when i got to the lake the outdrive would not go down, the motor ran i just wouldnt go down so i got home removed the cylinder from the outdrive and they still wouldnt work,hooked them back up jumped on the outdrive and it started working so i parked it left it set for 2 weeks with the outdrive down got ready to go to the lake raised the out drive i went up just fine lowered the outdrive also worked great did this several times, then headed to the lake, got to the lake the outdrive would not lower again, the motor runs, but the outdrive just doesnt got down any help would be appreciated, kinda frustrated at this point, thanks

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

Your trim cylinders are stuck. They either need to be overhauled or replaced.

 

[Bluefish]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

Sounds like a corrosion problem it should be hydraulic pressure up and the weight of the out drive down grease and rust buster.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

Go ahead and pull the plug

 

[tntitans21399]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

I would guess it is some kind of friction/lube problem. I might extend the arms as far as you can and spray, or maybe put some environmentally safe grease or lube on them, then have them come down. Then go up and down to make sure they are lubed good and won't stick. They might work for when you go up and down at home but by the time you get to the lake they stick, and the lube would help keep that problem from happening when they aren't being used. But it still happens even after the lube then you might need to replace them. You have already spent enough time and money to pull the plug. Just remember their was a reason you got a deal on the boat.

 

[180shabah]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

And you still have to take Everything apart again to rebuild the transom.

 

[angler53]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

Been there, done that with the good deal boat. The last one, I paid $1800 for a boat worth $9500. After I spent somewhere over $10k I had a boat worth $9500. Sold it for $5000 to stop the madness and then the buyer tried to bring it back.
Done without for eight years. Said I would never own another used boat. Well, I went and bit the big one and bought a new Ranger. The first month I was so happy to be able to fill up and go. Not having to work on it every weeknight to go on the weekend. Well, five weeks and fifteen hours in service the motor puked. The manufacturer wouldn't hear about replacing it, they fixed it and it runs good, so far. I have 18 hours on it. The big problem I have is I paid $14k for a new motor worth $7k on the open market.
I would say get out of it ASAP and make them payment on a new one but now I don't know.
What is it they say; if it floats, flies or f#@$...rent it. My brother puts it best though; B.O.A.T. break out another thousand.
Good luck to you anyway. I hope you get it worked out.

 

[1730V]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

I never sell a boat, or buy one, without a test drive. Would you buy a car without a test drive?

On the good side, your engine/outdrive combo is pretty bulletproof, once fixed.

 

[Hashi]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

Is it really worth the headaches and frustrations. As soon as you fix one thing, there's always something else that will go wrong. As Angler53 experienced, he put a lot more into his boat than what its really worth. I'd part it off and maybe, just maybe you'll get most of your money back.

 

[JCF350]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

There is a knob or screw on the pump body you need to check, it locks the drive in the up position for trailering.

Also check the Trim/Tilt cylinders. They power up and down, but there are some spring loaded "shock absorber" valves in them. These valves allow the outdrive to "kick up" if you hit something with it. If they don't seal right the outdrive will not lower on its own and will raise up in reverse. This is the most common problem.

 

[Rusty boat]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

i dont believe its a friction problem on the outdrive because i can disconnect the cylinders and lift the outdrive up and down with no resistance at all, but i worked the pump with the cylinders removed from the outdrive and i couldnt get my port side to work i just stayed extended,could one bad cylinder cause this, im mean it goes up just fine, thanks for the help and the comments,luckly i do enjoy working on it, until i lose my freaking mind, ps thanks dakota some days im really close, how about a good insurance policy, and angler53 your the only person alive with worse luck than me, but i did make me feel a little better, again thanks for the help guys.

 

[Bondo]

Re: If i dont get this thing fixed im gonna make a reef out of it.

could one bad cylinder cause this,

Yes......