1988 85hp Trim Ram Stuck?

[southbass]

My boat has been unused (sitting outside) for 3 years. The trim/tilt system always worked fine until I took it out of storage. Then it had a dead pump motor. The trim ram was in the full down position for 3 years.

I've just replaced my trim/tilt pump and valve body. Added 30 weight oil. The motor spins and I can see fluid movement in the resevoir. When I push the switch to the down position I can see air bubbles going into the resevoir. When I push the switch to the up position I don't see any bubbles but can hear the fluid moving. THE TRIM RAM DOES NOT MOVE.

What would be the next thing to check? Is it easy to "unstick" a stuck ram?

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1988 85hp Trim Ram Stuck?

make sure tubes are connected properly. try to lift engine while somebody runs the switch. the hydraulic pressure turns into thousands of pounds of force. It is not likely to be a simple case of rust since the hydraulic pressure would just break it free.

 

[southbass]

Re: 1988 85hp Trim Ram Stuck?

There is no weight on the ram. The motor is on the trailering Bracket. That's the way I always have it when not in the water.

Just double checked the hyd lines. They are in the correct positions.

 

[southbass]

Re: 1988 85hp Trim Ram Stuck?

Could it be that the seals are bad in the trim and or tilt cylinders? How do you check for that or do you just rebuild?

I know there was no fluid in the lines when I replaced the pump because I lowered the engine by hand when the pump was off an the fluid shot out of it. I'm assuming that's not an issue because the pump is self-priming is that correct?

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1988 85hp Trim Ram Stuck?

Could it be that the seals are bad in the trim and or tilt cylinders? How do you check for that or do you just rebuild?

I know there was no fluid in the lines when I replaced the pump because I lowered the engine by hand when the pump was off an the fluid shot out of it. I'm assuming that's not an issue because the pump is self-priming is that correct?

The seals and bypass valves in the rams break open when they fail and the system can be moved by hand in both directions. The two cylinders are interconnected. A failure in either ram will allow the fluid to bleed off from the other one.

If the tilt ram is not moving either then my guess would be that you boat the trim motor separate from the valve body, the trim motor is an API with sloppy end-play tolerance, and that the armature is not engaging the gears in your valve body. That would be my first guess. But you information really isn't complete enough. I'm just guessing its API motor problem because most of the API systems I have fixed started off with a similar description. BY now it may have grown into a rounded off armature tip and metal flakes problem. Don't run the motor too much if it isn't working right.