Hydraulics for leg leaking

[thisandthat]

MerCruiser 165 hp (Chevy 250 i6) with an alpha one. Early 70's
One of the hoses that goes from the hydraulic pump to the leg is leaking. I can't see or get to the end that goes under the engine and to the leg. Has anyone removed those hoses. It's so far back I'm afraid that I'll need to lift the engine to get to it.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[Alumarine]

Hi there and welcome.
There should be a manifold on the outside of the boat that the 4 hydraulic lines from the cylinders go to.
Undo the 2 nuts and the manifold will drop down and allow you to change the hose that goes to the pump.
It's not easy but as a rule doable. You will need a new gasket as well.

 

[thisandthat]

Thanks, so that worked out, but now the pump seems to work very hard when putting the leg down. Would having the lines crossed cause that? I don't see why but perhaps I'm missing something.

Thanks

 

[Alumarine]

Maybe. Both forward ports on the manifold should go to the forward most ports on the cylinders.
You could disconnect the cylinders from the leg and see if the motor still labors.