water in my trim pump oil resevoir

[searay4now]

Help me out if ya can? I am new to more modern boats, unlike my wooden boats, there are more features to consider. I baught a 1991 Sea Ray Bowrider 185 with a 5.0 Merc. As far as I can tell it works great! In the beginning I had it out in some real rough waters and it took on some water. I forgot that the bilge pumps did not have an automatic float switch so the engine compartment took on a lot of water till I ran the bilge. After this I noticed some squeeling sounds when I would adjust the trim. but only when I was in forward or reverse, not neutral or when I was trailering. I checked the trim oil res. and noticed the oil was cloudy, (water). I syphoned as much of the watery oil and put new 30w oil back in. I havnt had it out since but will soon. I believe the water came from when a lot of water was over the trim pump and it entered through the vent hole on the cap for the res. or maybe by the O ring the res. mounts to the pump. I dont think its a leaky cylinder because I dont see any oil dripping or cloudy film on top of the water behind the transom. Correct me if I am wrong. My question is, withou bleeding the trim lines, would this left over watery oil, (a small %) eventually affect my trim?

 

[johnkc]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

you won't be able to get 100%of the moisture out unless you disassemble the whole trim system.change the oil a few times till it clears up, you should be using 10-30 or 10-40 in the pump 30 w is too heavy ,especially when it is cooler out.

 

[searay4now]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

what if I just disconnect the lines from the cylinders and ran the pump until I see clear oil emmitting from the lines?? would this do the trick?

 

[bomar76]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

I gotta run, but somewhere I have the flushing method saved.<br /><br />I'll post it later.

 

[searay4now]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

thank You!!

 

[HULKSTERUPS]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

the same think happen to me,I thought you have to use power steering fluid,in the trim pump.Searay is that 30w engine oil you are using?

 

[searay4now]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

yes, My ship yard told me if it is oil, to use 30w

 

[searay4now]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

I hear the propper way to bleed the trim lines is to raise the trim all the way up, then lower it till I do not hear anymore air, is this with the lines disconnected from the cylinders??

 

[tommays]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

i watered out my pump this season when the frame rusted and damaged the tank o ring <br /><br /> i found the best thing was to remove the pump and wash out the tank and pump <br /><br />i then unhooked the ss lines on the hyd block on the drive and pumped clean oil through the black and grey hose it took quite a bit of time to get them clean as new<br /><br />next step i removed the trim cylinders and moved them by hand to pump out the milk mix <br /><br />they are really hard to move until you get the oil out<br /><br />i then put the one trim line at a time in some 10 wt oil and pulled it into the cyl and then pumped it out into my dirty oil pan until it showed no sign of milk<br /><br />put the system back together bled it buy the book works perfect<br /><br />if you leave any water in the trim cylinders the walls will get damaged and the cyl will start to leak <br /><br />any milk oil left anywere in the system will just get the new oil milk again it was about 5 hours of work but a trim pump is about 600 dollars and the cyl are over 300 each <br /><br />i felt it was worth 5 hours to keep 1200 dollars worth of parts from getting damaged any worse<br /><br />tommays

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

Something else to consider: IF the pump is mounted above the starter or if the water level was above the oil pan gasket you may need to also replace the starter,gimbal bearing,alt.

 

[bomar76]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

Man-O-man, are you in for a fun time. <br />I had a cylinder hose leak that allowed water into the system this spring. Flushing the system took me about 3 hours. <br /><br />What you have to do is this: <br />1) pick up about 4 quarts of the proper fluid for your system and a gallon of mineral spirits. Stop at a home center and pick up two bolts, 3/8-24 (I think) by 1in long. Rig up a two way switch and attach it to the pump solenoids, so you can run the trim system from the ground, unless you're lucky enough to have a transom switch or else you'll need a helper to man the switch from the cockpit. <br /><br />2) remove as much of the contaminated fluid from the reservoir as possible. <br /><br />3) refill reservoir with a 25/75 mix of oil and mineral spirits (oil-25, spirits-75). Don't attempt to run straight solvent, pump will seize. I almost did that to mine. <br /><br />4) starting with the drive all the way down, disconnect the two hydraulic lines that feed the far (aft end or trim in/down) end of the trim cylinders from the base of the drive system and install the two bolts finger tight. These bolts stop air from entering the system from the disconneced lines when you run the pump. <br /><br />5) hold the two disconnected hoses over a drain pan and trim the drive all the way up, trailer height. The fluid should be forced out the hoses that you are holding. <br /><br />6) when the drive is all the way up, stop, remove the two bolts, reconnect the two hoses, disconnect the other two, install the two bolts in those holes and run the trim all the way down, holding the hoses over the pan. <br /><br />DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL! <br />Refill with 25/75 mix. <br /><br />7) repeate this process until you flush out all the milky oil. <br /><br />WATCH YOUR OIL LEVEL! <br /><br />8) remove what oil and solvent you can from the reservoir and refill with straight oil and flush the cylinders as before until you are sure you have flushed out as much of the solvent as possible. <br /><br />WATCH YOUR OIL LEVEL! <br /><br />Check for leaks and you should be done. If you managed to get some air in the system, don't worry, it will bleed itself out.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: water in my trim pump oil resevoir

Searay - I have some water leakage into the T/T system all the time. I assume it leaks in through the cylinder base seals, although no oil leaks out. Periodically I suck the reservoir dry and add new oil. I have had no adverse effects.