Pink milkshake trim fluid

[NHGuy]

I have been running ATF in my power trim, it's getting a little water in there. I do a suck and fill twice a season hours or so to keep things managed.
Do any of you have some guidance on how to check for where the water gets in? All the manual says is how to test for hydraulic, mechanical and electrical issues. And there are tons of places to check. I'm thinking I might do the amateur trick and just change out the flex hoses and outermost o-rings. Maybe inspect the other pieces while in there.
Stupid? I guess I could just rebuild the cylinders, I just hate to screw around with them, they work perfectly.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

most likely coming in through the seal in the cylinder ends. i had the same thing on our old bay liner a few years back. its an easy fix to do. i don't remember the details now, but was able to leave them on the boat and just take the piston end loose
then repacked and resealed them. the kits were't very expensive either

as i remember ours looked good but on a real hot day one would get just film of oil on the end. not even enough to drip.
i also had to change one of the hoses but there was no question when this one went. it had a pin hole leak and could empty the fluid in 4 cycles

 

[6meter]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

Are you sure its not just getting air into the system? Can't seem to understand how water gets into a pressurized system. Maybe its the Moutonboro water? Meredith water doesn't do it to mine. lol

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

Are you sure its not just getting air into the system? Can't seem to understand how water gets into a pressurized system. Maybe its the Moutonboro water? Meredith water doesn't do it to mine. lol

ours was water. when it settled out it the fill plug would have water drops on it.

after re-packing cylinders--- no creamy oil external oil stains on the water, when in the water and no more water drops in on the fill plug

my best guess
the water is drawn or seeps in the cylinder rod packing some way

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

I was slumming in Meredith the other Sunday for the chowda fest. Too many people, big crowds. But at least the money went to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust.

Water can get in cause the cylinders are submerged and the seals are probably vintage 1988.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

What kind of ATF fluid are you using?

The seals in your cylinders might not react well to some ATF.

I use 10w-40 oil in mine and never had any problems...

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

that would explain ours. it was a 1973 and it had the atf in it when we got it.
i dont know what was in it, but it was red and i used dextron 2

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

I suppose I could break down and put in the motor oil. After all it is what Merc specs. But I normally think pumps ought to have pump type of fluid so that's what got me to put in ATF. Plus that's how I got it.
It works beautifully so I'm not going to tear it down unless necessary, I think I'll order a seal kit and just do the end seals unless the inner seals look bad when disassembled. They are nothing more than a bunch of O rings. If I was really hack I'd use some leftovers from car A/C work.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Pink milkshake trim fluid

They are nothing more than a bunch of O rings.

it more than just o-rings, there are actual seals/scrapers in em, and a protocol for how to rebuild the rams - be sure you follow the instructions outlined in the OEM manual

the end caps can be really tough to get off, especially if they haven't been off for a while/ever - be gentle, take your time and use penetrating oil, avoid heat at all costs (it can lead to breakage of the casing)

with the boat out of the water, run the trim up and down a bunch of times and check the entire system for leaks, could be you have a faulty hose/connection somewhere