Mercruiser hydraulic trim manifold removal

[NatedoggAZ]

Hey all,

So I got the boat home today to work on it...

I removed the mercathode electrode unit bolts - 2 bolts
I removed the 2 nuts for the hydraulic manifold - 2 nuts

The manifold appears to be totally stuck to the bottom of the housing.... I banged on it with a screwdriver and hammer even...

....any ideas in how to pull it off?

I don't want to damage anything in the process...

Thanks!!

ND

 

[NatedoggAZ]

AH... found an article.... this describes what I need to do...urgh..

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...89562-replacing-mr-alpha-1-hydraulic-manifold

 

[NatedoggAZ]

...alright - manifold came off pretty easy using a putty knife and a few hits with a hammer...

NOW - I cannot break loose the upper hydraulic lines...I only have about an inch of space to get in a wrench...BUT neither of them will break loose so I can take off the manifold...ARGH!!! I am about a few turns away from rounding the corners on the hydraulic connector bolts...

 

[Bt Doctur]

use a flare wrench and that would not happen

 

[fishrdan]

Yep, and don't use a cheap flare hut wrench, use a high quality flare nut wrench, one that fits the nut tight, not sloppy.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Holy crap - I never even knew flare nut wrenches existed - wow, you learn something new every day...
I did however go out and buy a new SAE set from HF for like $13 (with coupon of course) and the 7/16 wrench worked fine... the application was tight and not sloppy at all.

What a lifesaver though... I don't think there was ANY way I could have pulled off those hoses without the flare wrench - they were REALLY on there good - it took some hard wrenching to get them off...thank you so much!

After removing those upper hoses and pulling off the manifold, I did notice that one of the connections was quite possibly originally over-tightened and the connection threads were a little stripped - just in one area though and not all the way around. I think this is possibly is where the water sucking into the hydraulic system was coming from.

I ordered a new manifold from this place out in CA called GLM products: http://www.glmmarine.com/

I'm really hoping to just screw the upper lines into the manifold - however - I want to use this Loctite sealer (or something similar) to seal those threads from leaking again:
https://www.amazon.com/Loctite-37482-Pneumatic-Hydraulic-36-milliliter/dp/B003XZB54O

Let me know what you all think...

Thanks!

ND

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Hey all,

Just checking back to see if anyone has used this Loctite stuff?

Its kinda expensive - but it might same me a HUGE headache...

ND

 

[Grub54891]

The fittings are flared just like fuel lines, and brake lines. No sealer needed. Loctite will just make them harder to take apart next time.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I might dab 'em with perfect seal, just so's they don't seize/ corrode like they sometimes do,....

They just need to be tight enough to not leak at the flare,.... not super tight,.....

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Thanks for the help!

I did purchase that Loctite sealer - it was kinda $$$ - so hopefully it works...

One of the reasons I purchased it though was due to its "Controlled locking strength allows easy disassembly" description - and it got some great reviews...

Not to mention - the product is specifically used for hydraulic systems and has a 10,000 PSI rating ..

I really don't think the hydraulic hose went bad - at least I hope it didn't - so hopefully this sealer will stop the leak if in fact it was coming from the manifold connection...

ND