Trim fluid change procedure help

[IES99]

I have two problems with the tilt/trim on my 1988 Alpha One: 1. Water in hydraulic fluid (its a milk shake) and 2. Very slow up with both tilt and trailer. From reading here on the helpful Forum I have plans to: 1. Change the seals at the ends of the cylinders and 2. Drain, flush, refill and bleed the system. So here are the questions:

1. When I disconnect the cylinders from the stern drive, should it be in the full down or up position?

2. When I want to start draining the system, which hydraulic hose should I disconnect first?

3. Should I then run the pump several times to completely drain? I understand that I will need to add fluid so that the pump is not run dry, is that right?

4. I understand that getting the sealing nut off the rear of the cylinder with the pin type spanner can be tough. Any suggestions on how to speed this up?

5. Once I have it all back together, I start putting fluid back into the reservoir and keep pumping up and down while continuing to add hydraulic fluid to the reservoir to bleed the system. Is that correct?

Thanks in advance and appreciate any thoughts on each of these steps.

Ed

 

[cr2k]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

Wondering why you are changing the fluid? most common is to drain the reservoir and refill and cycle rams a few times, to "replace" the fluid just do this a few times.

 

[IES99]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

Wondering why you are changing the fluid? most common is to drain the reservoir and refill and cycle rams a few times, to "replace" the fluid just do this a few times.

Well, I'm new to this procedure so that's why I thought that. Thanks.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

If you have water in the system, go ahead and pull the pump. And then separate the pump from the reservoir. I have tried to suck all the old watery oil out and bleed system... but i guarantee the water has formed globs in the oil and it's prolly sucked up against the screen. Thus causing the slow movement. Why are you rebuilding the cylinders? My water got in the system from the vented reservoir cap. I just fabricated an aluminum shield to shed the water

To bleed the system, i just ran the drive full up... then cracked the line closest to transom (on cylinders) As you do this the drive will move down. Refill the res and run her back up. Then do the other side. A couple times of this and there should be all fresh oil in the system. BTW- i just used plain 5w30. I think they say 10w30 or atf. Your choice. Goodluck!

 

[IES99]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

Stingray: thank you. I have cracked open that line on the starboard side as you recommend and it is now draining slowly while I am at work. The reason that I ordered (and have received today) the sealing kits for the back of the cylinders is that several people on the forum here have told me that "crud" builds up in that area and slows the system. The other threads have included statements that if the use is in salt water (100% of the use of mine (for 24 years now)) these need to be cleaned up and resealed. I also think that that's whether the water intrusion has come from since there is little chance given where my pump and reservoir are that the water got in on that end. Anybody, please correct me if I'm on the wrong track. I bought several quarts of 10w-30 to do this.

Ed

 

[IES99]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

At least for now, I have not rebuilt the cylinder seals. I drained the reservoir, added 10w30, ran the tilt up, opened hose connection to the starboard cylinder, let it drain (fluid with water in it), closed the cylinder, filled the reservoir again and repeated until I had clear oil (with no water) coming out of the cylinder. Doing that fixed the slowness of up. It works fine again now. If water gets into the system again (which I'm assuming will happen) I seal the cylinders (I have the kits).

Thanks for your advice.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

I'm about to do this reseal job tonight, will comment on how it goes.

 

[IES99]

Re: Trim fluid change procedure help

I'm about to do this reseal job tonight, will comment on how it goes.

I'm looking forward to you telling me how that goes.