MC-1 Trim Troubleshooting

[jstucky]

Well I've got the drive and engine operational on the old boat I bought so I'm moving on the trim system. Trim goes up fine but when coming down it only would go down 1 inch or so (pump runs). I could push the drive down a little but it would spring back up. I took the rams loose and only the left trim cylinder is retracting. The right trim cylinder still seems to fully extended (after I took the weight of the drive off). I ran the trim in and out a little more and the left cylinder seems to operate normally. Right cylinder remains fully extended. Anyone seen this issue with just 1 of the 2 cylinders? Is the next step to unhook hydraulic lines and see if cylinder is jammed? Thanks in advance.

 

[kenny nunez]

Trim trouble shooting
You need to get a pair of trim cylinder repair kits. The one that does not fully retract has a “o” ring that is in the front of the ram and is leaking. There is up to 3k psi on the up but only 800 psi for the down. The packing gland where the rods extend gets a build up that binds the rod.
Be real careful with the steel check valve bodies on the end of the rods as there are small ball bearings that can get lost when you un bolt them. Also be sure to put the check valves back the way they came off. The most forward spool that is in the ram sometimes does not come out easily, thread the end cap back on the ram tube and bang it on the table against the end cap.
The system is self bleeding and power steering fluid is a good fluid to refill it with .

 

[jstucky]

Thanks Kenny. Do I only need the O-ring kit 25-60342A2 or the whole rebuild kit?

 

[kenny nunez]

Just the “O”ring kit. Hopefully the caps will come off without a fight. Sometimes the whole tube will un screw from the front because the cap is corroded to the tube section but the ram can still be re sealed. You will need a sharp scribe to clean out the packing seal groove. Good luck

 

[jstucky]

Thanks Kenny. I got a seal kit but I don't think I will need it just yet. I started studying the hoses and realized the guy I bought the boat from hooked the hoses in the reverse on the right cylinder (crazy). Switched the hoses to match the one on the left and now everything works fine. I hope it didn't ruin the pump--that couldn't have been good on it. He was so proud of having changed out the expensive ss hoses..:lol:

 

[kenny nunez]

Good news, you lucked out. Sometimes hooking the hoses backwards will blow up a ram tube. Always remember on the hoses, front port to front port ram to block.